Rules for Radicals
by Saul Alinksy
Rules for Radicals was written in the early 1970's as a guide for newly inspired "radicals" in America. The emphasis on the book was providing insight and advice on organizing and empowering community groups to fight for change. While the book focuses on low income groups in America, some of the messages are both universal and timeless. I particularly enjoy two passages where he speaks about "fighting within the system". As someone who feels that much needs to be changed in the world, I often flip-flop between wanting a full scale revolution in which we burn down Wall Street and the White House, and a more pragmatic and realistic approach where I write my senator and march in protest.
As an organizer I start from where the world is, as it is,
not as I would like it to be. That we accept the world as it is does not in any
sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be — it is
necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think
it should be. That means working in the system.
Effective organization is thwarted by the desire for instant
and dramatic change, or as I have phrased it elsewhere the demand for
revelation rather than revolution.
