1. Rules for radicals Saul Alinsky

2. Communities as “reflections of the larger processes of an urban society”. [ [ Alinsky focused on the power of individuals being empowered through coming together to solve shared social problems. He harnessed the power of individuals and community organisations to create a guidebook for community organizing, “Rules for Radicals”, to allow civil society to learn how to leverage their collective power to come to a solution together through dialectic engagement.

3. Role of nonviolent conflict Alinsky used nonviolent conflict as a management strategy; by selecting a politician, policy or institution that held the power to enact change, direct action could be taken through talks, negotiations and peaceful, collective demonstrations in reaching a solution.

4. Activity There have been as many criticisms as plaudits for Alinsky’s work, most prominently the book “Rules for conservatives” written as a response to his work. READ Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” and evaluate the effectiveness of his recommendations for the power of individuals and community organisations to solve social problems. What is the evidence of Alinsky’s work in contemporary society? How have is proposed solutions and philosophies altered in the meantime?

5. Rules for Radicals

6. Rule one: “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” Power is derived from two main sources – money and people. The BALANCE of power is often more heavily weighted towards government and corporations, which use economic arguments to wield power. Individuals have much less power than these groups.

7. Rule Two: “Never go outside the expertise of your people.” Keep sure to what you know.

8. RULE 3: “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.” Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty.

9. RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. This is a serious rule. The besieged entity’s very credibility and reputation is at stake, because if activists catch it lying or not living up to its commitments, they can continue to chip away at the organisations credibility.

10. RULE 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” This works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions, particularly when they come to the table with

11. RULE 6: “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” Do something that you enjoy; however, remember the revel that comes from tactics that work

12. RULE 7: “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Don’t become old news.

13. RULE 8: “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, try something new.

14. RULE 9: “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Large organizations can prepare a worst-case scenario in response to a solution, resulting in demoralization; Keep on.

15. RULE 10: “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.” Publicising inaction or negative reactions from the other side can promote awareness and empathy for your cause

16. RULE 11: “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” \ Always be ready to provide a solution to the problem. Activist organizations have an agenda, and their strategy is to hold a place at the table, to be given a forum to wield their power. So, they have to have a compromise solution.)

17. RULE 12: “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Go after people, and not institutions; in directing action towards the individual, there is a higher chance of success

18. Your rules In groups, CREATE a list of TWELVE of your own rules to enact change in civil society.

19. Obama and Alinsky How has the legacy of Saul Alinsky influenced contemporary society?

20. Additional Reading ABC News (2010). Obama, the world's community organiser. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-09-23/30162 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-09-23/30162 Alinsky, S. (1971). Rules for radicals (1st ed.). New York: Random House. Benko, R. (2012). Dear President Obama: You're No Saul Alinsky. Forbes. Retrieved 28 September 2014, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphbenko/2012/01/16/dear-president- obama-youre-no-saul-alinsky/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphbenko/2012/01/16/dear-president- obama-youre-no-saul-alinsky/ Chambers, E., & Cowan, M. (2003). Roots for radicals (1st ed.). New York: Continuum. Kerwick, J., & Kerwick, J. (2014). Six Alinsky Rules That Explain Obama’s Words and Deeds | FrontPage Magazine. Frontpagemag.com. http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/jack-kerwick/6- saul-alinsky-rules-that-explain-obamas-words-and-deeds/http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/jack-kerwick/6- saul-alinsky-rules-that-explain-obamas-words-and-deeds/ Master, M. (2012). Rules for conservatives (1st ed.). Nashville, Tennesee: Dunham Books. National Review Online (2014). Byron York - What Did Obama Do As A Community Organizer?. Retrieved 28 September 2014, from http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/225564/what-did- obama-do-community-organizer/byron-yorkhttp://www.nationalreview.com/articles/225564/what-did- obama-do-community-organizer/byron-york

21. What about you? Alinsky’s proposition that we act on issues that we are personally affected and passionate about ring true today. What issues are you passionate about in society? Can you bring awareness to them through peaceful agitation, dialogue and negotiation? Who would you partner up with? Who (individual with the power to enact change) can help you solve this problem? Most importantly… Can you ignite this passion and put it in your PIP?