New Tactics Meet New People

Al Giordano says the most threatening thing to the ruling elite is people working together across race, religion, and class. But the Left, he says, is one of the most segregated places in America. While segregation used to be enforced by law, it is now consumer culture, through market segmentation and advertising niches, that separates people. The key to the success of the Obama campaign, and how an underdog won the US presidency, can be summarized in two words: community organizing. It showed the tremendous power that comes from bridging the divides, from getting the latinos, blacks, whites and mulatos to work together.

This is a follow-up to my previous post drawing lessons from the stories of long-time organizer, Al Giordano. I have tried to catch and germinate in my own way some of the pips from Al's fruitful experience with organizing. Plant these and they will sprout, whatever your field.

Big wings can't fit the pigeonhole

Al says: "Make sure you're the one to define who you are. Don't leave it to the other side." The faded cover of an old mainstream magazine is being passed around. It shows a few hundred people behind a banner:  "The People of New Hampshire Against the Nuclear Dump".  Organizing means working to include as wide a cross-section of the community as you can. Putting local folks front and center sends a strong message to the population that this is a movement of them, by them, for them. When you get big enough, you become "the people". And "The People" can't be marginalized as one pressure group or constituency. 

Extend the fight to wider principles

One strike of genius in Al Giordano's work in Pennsylvania and against nuclear power was to use flashy protests for a time, to build recognition and a base, and then work to bring the efforts into a much wider arena: referendum organizing. It goes like this. 

First, win the right to a referendum  — "Vote for your right to vote". Second, win the referendum. 

A referendum allows many more people to relate, and participate. This has the effect of moving the battleground away from land-based "turf" (local issues, facilities, building sites), where the opponents could win by attrition, to an all-out "war" on fundamental principles, such as democracy. The referendum works as an extension of the "Capture the Flag" principle. It superimposes a "pro-democracy" (us) Vs. "anti-democracy" (them) frame on an otherwise complex  and specialized conflict. People might agree or disagree with your analysis of nuclear power, but most will agree that they should have their say on the issue. As an extra benefit, you also win time, a precious and scarce resource in struggles to defend communities against undesirable projects. 

Find the unlikely agent

A good organizer looks for the right, unlikely agent to do high-profile, essential work. For example, you can go to the Baptist minister on the white side of town. Get him to organize his congregation to clean up the park or take down the fences between the black and white neighbourhoods. Let him get his mug in the paper. If at first you don't succeed, at least you may neutralize a potential opponent. "If you push them they must come, or not get in the way". 

Move fast

"Organizing is about the footwork, not the punches", says Al Giordano. "You find the opening and strike fast. You always want to be ahead of the other side. That is how you get them demoralized. Speed is a weapon of war." So winning is often about being first. With speed, you get to frame the language, the issue, who's the good guy, the bad guy. 

Organizers dress for success

Says Al: "As an organizer, you're like a sex worker: the object of people's fantasies". That's why, contrary to the counter-cultural moods of the anti-nuke movement at the time, Al chose to dress for those he had to meet and convince. He broke the dominant "protester" dress code, often wearing an American flag on his lapel. "If I were organizing in a orthodox Jewish community, I would not walk in there eating a ham sandwich", said Saul Alinsky. As an organizer, getting through is more important than looking hip.

Only wear one button at a time

"If you wear all of the buttons, you don't make progress on any of them", says Al. One button is a conversation starter. Wearing many becomes a form of cultural retreat into the activist world. Take it also metaphorically: pick one thing at a time, and do it well. 

Work with self-interest

"Self-interested people are more reliable than altruists. In that last mile when the chips are down, they will be the ones to carry you over the fence."

Parting quote

On the need for self-reflection and growth, Al Giordano had this to say: "At the end of the day, ask yourself: did it work? If not, then why not? If the answer is not about you, it's not the right answer."

--

Philippe Duhamel

interTactica — a liberation blog

"I am not an activist", writes Al Giordano. "I don't believe in activism. I think activism, as it is generally practiced in the United States, is more often than not a cop out and an excuse by some to avoid doing the heavy lifting of organizing." I recommend his piece on the difference between activism and organizing. Some vital distinctions. While you're at it, make sure to drop Al Giordano's blogs, The Field and The Narcosphere, into your fix of daily news.

Extra! Extra! Al currently grows in his field some of the most fecund analysis around of the nonviolent revolution under way in Iran. Few commentators grasp as well as he, the main dynamics of the historical moments we are witnessing, as he and his team reports daily on its promising, if yet uncertain, unfolding.