links

Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. Sun Tzu

Hmm, strategising. It’s easily said, harder (and hardly) done, harder still to implement. We would, it seems, rather be doing something. (As the old meditation line goes “don’t just do something, sit there!” But that can mean we keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, which is one definition of madness…

www.campaignstrategy.org

Chris Rose’s “modest suggestions for anyone trying to save the world” Really really good stuff. Uses research on how people with different worldviews will respond to “messages” from government, corporations, campaigners etc. Full of useful insights. A newsletter that comes out most months can be subscribed to for free.

www.campaignstrategy.org

A different view: critical guidance for campaigners

“A different view is the summation of over thirty years campaigning experience, providing answers to the question that only the most driven campaigners dare to ask, “What would it actually take to succeed?”

http://nickgallie.org/

Seeds for Change

Seeds for Change is a non-profit coop providing training and resources to grassroots campaigners, NGOs, Co-ops and other community groups and organisations in the social sector.

On our website we have details of the support we offer, as well as resources for campaigners.

See especially their briefings on strategy http://seedsforchange.org.uk/free/resources#plan

and “organising successful meetings” http://seedsforchange.org.uk/free/resources#grp

www.seedsforchange.org.uk

The Change Agency is a collective of activist educators and researchers. We work with community organisers to help people clarify their purpose and develop plans that will enable them to be heard, focus their energies and achieve social and environmental justice outcomes.
We research social change, activism and advocacy. What is successful and what isn’t? How can people organise and work together more effectively? Based on our ongoing research we facilitate workshops for activists and community organisers and also share many of our resources on this site.
Our mission is to strengthen effective community and workplace action for social, ecological and economic justice by providing facilitation, workshops, resources, research and other learning opportunities.

www.thechangeagency.org

The Movement Action Plan is a strategic model for waging non-violent social movements developed by Bill Moyer, a US social change activist. The MAP, initially developed by Moyer in the late 1970s, uses case studies of successful social movements to illustrate eight distinct stages through social movements progress, and is designed to help movement activists choose the most effective tactics and strategies to match their movements’ current stage.

• The Eight Stages Moyer Describes are:

1. Critical Social Problem Exists

2. Prove Failure of Official Institutions

3. Ripening Conditions

4. Take Off

5. Perception of Failure

6. Majority Public Opinion

7. Success

8. Continuation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_Action_Plan

Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” is a classic. Dated, but not just a historical curio.

“Known as the “father of modern American radicalism,” Saul D. Alinsky (1909-1972) developed strategies and tactics that take the enormous, unfocused emotional energy of grass-roots groups and transform it into effective anti-government and anti-corporate activism. Activist organizations teach his ideas widely taught today as a set of model behaviours, and they use these principles to create an emotional commitment to victory – no matter what.”

www.geocities.com/WallStreet/8925/alinsky.htm (with 12 classic rules)

Hell, your taxes (if you pay them) paid for this malarkey- you may as well use it…

“The Strategy Survival Guide aims to support strategy development and promote strategic thinking in government. It encourages a project-based approach to developing strategy and describes four typical project phases. It also discusses a range of skills and useful tools and approaches that can help to foster strategic thinking. It is offered as a resource and reference guide, and not intended as a prescription or off-the-shelf solution to successful strategy work.”

http://interactive.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/survivalguide