Weaving coalitions in action: how the protests for a free Palestine created momentum

This article examines the dynamics of coalition-building within social movements, focusing on responses to the conflict in Gaza. It develops the notion of a coalition in action to analyse how diverse actors – civil society organizations, unions, feminist movements, and activist networks – form alliances in anti-war mobilizations. Rather than assuming pre-existing ties, the study investigates how coalitions emerge through collective frame bridging, coordination, and the management of diverse backgrounds and positions. Empirically, it draws on extensive fieldwork in Bologna, including participant observation, interviews, and a protest-event analysis of ANSA news reports. The article traces the evolution of mobilization across three key phases: the establishment of the Coordinamento per la Palestina; the boycott campaign within the University; and the university encampment – the longest-lasting initiative of its kind in Italy. By exploring the actors, alliances, and framing strategies that sustained mobilization between October 2023 and July 2024, the study contributes to broader debates on coalition politics in transnational solidarity movements.