Rules of Activism

Since its founding, activists have demanded that the United States lives up to its democratic promise. Now, with Rules of Activism, Charles Euchner offers a concise "field guide" to the critical place of political and social movements in American politics. Activists have always been at the center of democratic reform in America: abolitionism and suffragism, labor and urban reform, civil rights and antiwar protest, feminism and environmentalism. They have agitated and confronted authorities to promote basic rights, economic opportunity, and community wellbeing. In this comprehensive guide, Euchner describes fifteen core rules of successful movements. In describing each rule, he offers compelling case studies of activists at work and then examines the rule’s underlying logic. Every aspect of activism is explored: recruitment, training, organizational development, leadership, strategy, tactics, and the pivot from protest to policy. In a world of growing inequality and existential crises, activist politics has never been more important. Rules of Activism offers a necessary guide for practitioners, scholars and students, and ordinary citizens seeking to understand this core political practice.

Introduction: ‘This is What Democracy Looks Like’ Part I: Insight and Outreach Rule 1: Connect, Listen, and Share Rule 2: Identify Gaps and Contradictions Rule 3: Master the Big Idea Rule 4: Map the Sites of Power Part II: Building Capacity Rule 5: Recruit Allies, Near and Far Rule 6: Build a Strong Organization Rule 7: Nurture Servant Leadership Part III: Strategy and Tactics Rule 8: Create a Multi-Dimensional Strategy Rule 9: Work Off the Grid Rule 10: Rally for Solidarity and Attention Rule 11: Withdraw Consent Rule 12: Block, Occupy, and Subvert Rule 13: Create Enduring Symbols and Identity Part IV: Win Some, Lose Some Rule 14: Evolve Multi-Stage Campaigns Rule 15: Pivot from Protest to Policy Postscript: Activism and Democracy