Adapting Tactics: What You Should Know

The information on this page is adapted from the New Tactics in Human Rights: A Resource for Practitioners book found on page 161.

The tactics featured on our website, and in our publications, are meant to inspire you to think about new ways of doing your work. We also hope that you will find tactics that are transferable to your situation.

When we say that tactics are transferable, we mean that they can be adapted for use in contexts and countries other than the ones in which they originated. This does not usually mean that you could or should try to use a tactic - from this website or elsewhere - in exactly the same way it was originally used. You need to evaluate your own situation and resources and assess the risks involved. You may need to combine one tactic with another, or you may find that some component or aspect of a tactic is applicable in your situation, while the tactic as a whole is not.

The questions below will help you evaluate and adapt new tactics to your own situation.

Know yourself - resources and allies

• Is this tactic right for my issue and situation?
• Who else can I discuss this with?
• What other groups should I tell about this?
• Have I ever seen or used a tactic like this?
  • Was it successful?
  • Why or why not?

• How would it help me achieve my goals?
• Would it have the intended effect on my target?
• Has this tactic already been used on my target?
• What resources would I need?
• What resources do I already have?
• How can I get those resources that I don’t have?
• Who can I to talk to in order to get more information about this tactic?
• What alliances would I need to make to use this tactic?
• How can I make those alliances?

Know your adversary - Risk assessment

• How might those who oppose my issue react to this tactic?
• How risky would this tactic be for me or my organization?
• Am I prepared to accept the level of risk involved in this tactic?
• How can I reduce the risks that may be involved in using this tactic?

Know your terrain - Changing the tactic to fit your context

• Can I use some part of this tactic?
• Can I combine this tactic with other tactics?
• What is my back-up plan?
• What would I do if this tactic doesn’t work the way I expect it to?

[Examples of Transferability]