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Tactical Mapping is a method of visualizing the institutions and relationships sustaining human rights abuses, and then tracking the nature and potency of tactics available to affect these systems, ultimately serving as a tool to monitor the implementation of strategy.
The process begins by understanding the relationship that a campaign seeks to change or disrupt (such as the relationship between a torturer and a victim), then diagramming the relationships in which this strategic target is embedded, using a series of symbols comparable to a flow chart or organizational diagram.
Once the diagram is complete, it is used to “map tactics,” to understand which relationship(s) each tactic is expected to affect, and how. These two processes create a diagnosis of the situation in the given country, including the key relationships surrounding human rights abuses, the impact of existing tactics in use, and the intervention points that are not being addressed.
Tactical mapping can be used to think about:
- What key relationships need to be affected to move your issue and strategy forward?
- What tactics are currently at play or available?
- How do these tactics affect the context, organizations, key relationships, etc., you want to target?
- What key institutions, social groups or relationships are unaffected by current tactics?
- What tactics might be used to engage the areas currently unaffected?
- Can potential allies be identified for building a more comprehensive and effective strategy?
The Tactical Map tool continues to evolve with use and feedback from human rights advocates and educators who are using the tool. The resources listed below provide different views of the tactical map tool and process. The graphic above shows segments of the tactical map seen in the picture above. See also this picture for an "early" tactical map example from the Asia Regional Training Workshop in Chiang Mai in 2005.
Resources
| Title | Description | Additional Languages |
| Tactical Mapping Tool | A practical guide to creating a tactical map. Contains many examples of maps from organizations around the world all working on the issue of torture. | Croatian | French | Spanish | Turkish. |
| Overview of Tactical Mapping | A more comprehensive history of the tool as well as some detailed examples of its application. | (English only) |
| Tactical Mapping Article | A brief (2 page) description of Tactical Mapping. | Croatian | Spanish | Tetum (East Timor) | Turkish. |
| Tactical Mapping: How Nonprofits Can Identify the Levers of Change | An article (8 pages) published in the Nonprofit Quarterly, Summer 2009. | (English only) |
Additional resources on mapping/visualization:
- Mapping systems: Making complex relationships visible and understandable. This presentation from our 2004 World Symposium explores ideas for using GPS, GIS and other kinds of mapping.
- 'Visualizing Information for Advocacy' by the Tactical Technology Collective (6.85 mb).
- An example: Mapping torture and ill-treatment in Turkey STRA-MAP (available in Turkish and English)
