Keynote Lecture: 'Coalition Building Across Cultural “Divides”' by Nadim Haidar

Across the world, the past sixteen months have witnessed the emergence of robust social movements centered around solidarity with Palestine. Whether it was London or New York, Jakarta or Sanaa, thousands took to the streets (and the universities!) on an almost weekly basis to demonstrate, protest, and resist various nodes and structures of power that have contributed to what numerous organizations, such as Amnesty International, have called a genocide in Gaza. These social movements didn’t materialize out of thin air, however. Their emergence presupposed – and necessitated – the building of vigorous coalitions that were composed of diverse groups, cultures, political ideologies, and identities. Such coalitions were essential in providing general unity and direction; they were also vital in equipping social movements with the tools needed to withstand both counter-revolutionary pressures and internal fractures. This talk by Nadim Haidar sheds light on the organizing and coalition-building experience in Copenhagen, which witnessed one of the more sustainable movements for Palestine in Europe (for one example see the street demonstration, right, on 7 January 2024). The social movement in Copenhagen managed to successfully navigate various cultural and political “divides,” and hence maintained a vibrant, dynamic, and resilient movement that is still active today. Building on this experience, this talk will reflect on the lessons learned, on the potential pitfalls, and most importantly on the successful strategies employed in coalition building across political and cultural “divides.” 

Nadim Haidar holds a BA in Political Studies and an MA in Middle Eastern Studies, both from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. His Master's thesis provided a critical appraisal of the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS), with his broader research interests lying at the intersection of political theory and Middle Eastern history. Nadim has been an organizer and activist for many years and has engaged with numerous movements for social justice, including the climate movement, the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the Lebanese Uprising of 2019. Most recently, Nadim has served as an organizer in Internationalt Forum, focusing on the struggle for justice in Palestine. He is now based in Copenhagen, Denmark.