Liberation Stories
In Liberation Stories: Building Narrative Power for 21st Century Social Movements, today’s foremost progressive and leftist communicators, organizers, artists, journalists, and academics share their collective insights through in-depth case studies of both contemporary and historical movements. Liberation Stories distills successful theories, strategies, and tactics for anyone wanting to understand—and participate in—the diverse initiatives currently shaping our society.
Social movements like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, climate justice, the Fight for $15, Palestine liberation, healthcare for all, and queer and trans resistance have illuminated a new narrative—one rooted in an inclusive vision of society, driven by a newly politicized and radicalized generation. This shift did not happen by chance. Movement workers have meticulously crafted communications and narrative strategies, honing their political messaging and storytelling to seize narrative power in today’s struggles. The 21st century has seen a profound shift in the global socio-political and economic landscape, shaped by seismic interventions ranging from the War on Terror to the COVID-19 pandemic. As far-right and conservative movements continue to gain traction worldwide, we need cutting-edge narrative, storytelling and political education tools now more than ever. Edited by Shanelle Matthews, Marzena Zukowska and the Radical Communicators Network, the case studies in Liberation Stories combine academic theory, historical examples, and best practices to provide a candid, forward-looking analysis of how real-world narratives evolve and are challenged through social justice communications.
Liberation Stories unearthed a need for intense learning and practice around the narrative power building framework posited within the text. RadComms started RadSchool in 2026, a curriculum of in-depth exploration of narrative power and its role in contemporary social movements, organizing, and activism. Cohort participants engage with foundational texts from Liberation Stories, historical readings, theoretical frameworks, and contemporary case studies to understand how narratives shape public perception, influence policy, and build collective power.