Worker ants or empowered citizens? Unity and disunity in the Community Independents Movement

This article examines the internal dynamics of Australia’s Community Independents Movement (CIM)–a diverse, well-resourced political movement with nationwide reach and electoral impact. Using the ‘collective action frames’ approach from social movement studies, the article draws on empirical data to analyse how the CIM frames: (1) the core problems facing Australian politics (diagnostic frames); (2) what to do about these problems (prognostic frames); and (3) why people should act (motivational frames). The analysis finds that the CIM’s multiple collective action frames mostly synergise or co-exist, and this serves to unify the movement. There are, however, some frame tensions within the CIM, particularly with regard to solutions: should the CIM focus on empowering communities to lead democratic change or on running professionalised election campaigns? The article considers the strategies the CIM uses to manage its internal tensions and reflects on its capacity to maintain unity going forward.