The Spectrum of Allies tool helps you understand Sun Tzu’s directives to “Know the Terrain”, “Know Yourself” and “Know Your Opponent.” It is not humanly possible to work on every identified relationship on your tactical map at the same time. We have limitations of time, energy, and resources. This is why the “Tactical Map” and the “Spectrum of Allies” tools are useful. Each tool gives you a different visual view of the relationships in your context. The tactical map expands your view of relationships involved in your problem. With each relationship being a potential target for action. The spectrum of allies helps you narrow your focus. Which relationships could be most strategic for taking action.  

The spectrum of allies tool visualizes these relationships or  “stakeholders” according to their position on your issue. This is from a range of active allies to active opponents. We often assume that everyone in an institution, organization, group or community will respond to the issue in the same way. In reality, this is not true. The spectrum of allies tool helps you to verify real positions of support or opposition. This gives you better information to plan your course of action.

Moving actors on the Spectrum of allies

The spectrum of allies tool shows the range of your allies to opponents. This will help you and your team:

• Explore and visualize relationships who are for (allies) and against (opponents) your issue.
• Identify potential allies for building a more comprehensive and effective strategy. Avoid duplication of efforts.
• Assess your risks by better understanding your opponents. Identify those actors who are or will most likely to take action against your efforts.
• Identify targets for realistic action to better use your resources, capacity, time, etc. 
• Identify effective tactics based on how much they do or don’t attract key allies. 
• Recognize it is not necessary to “win over” opponents to have successful movement on your issue.

The spectrum of allies tool assists your team to focus on specific targets for action. This in turn makes the identification of potential tactics more realistic and effective. For example, your team may identify a specific institution for action. Individual people operate and support the work of that institution. Both allies and opponents to your issue will be present in that institution. This gives you opportunities for building support for your issue in that institution.

New Tactics combines the “tactical map” with the “spectrum of allies” tool. Both tools help you analyze the relationships in your context or “terrain”. Use the online Tactical Mapping tool to map and visualize your human rights terrain with the tactical map and spectrum of allies. If you are unable or do not want to use the online tactical mapping tool, use these tips to create your spectrum of allies:

Done Mapping the Terrain? Continue to Step 4 of our methodology to explore tactics for creating change!