RULES FOR RADICALS

by Saul Alinsky ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 1971

Alinsky, a '30's radical and the prototype of a community organizer, now heads a Marshall Field foundation. Here he appeals to radicals to work within the system because that's where the people are. This principle, self-evident to earnest organizers, is followed by the injunction to smile because laughter is one of the most precious parts of youth: ""Together we may find some of what we were looking for,"" beauty, love, and the chance to create, but first be tough. Remember that society is composed of Haves, Have-Nots, and Have-a-Little-Want-Mores; with ghetto victims, be homey but remember to treat them like adults. Alinsky offers specific tactics -- always personalize the target -- e.g., confound the Rochester, New York elite by bringing 100 bean-fed black people to a concert and have them fart to a fare-thee-well. This will shake up the whites (and any self-respecting black), but it's not just a cute gimmick -- ""it grows out of the rules of the revolution."" Find the right community issues and don't forget that power is also what the enemy thinks you have. Alinsky's next campaign will fight misleading advertising. How this ""Battle of Bunkum Hill"" will serve to ""create mass organizations to seize power and give it to the people"" is not clear; how discrete ""communities"" will ever add up to revolutionary ""power-seizing"" is not explained. In short, Alinsky has failed to do justice to his own experience and strategic understanding.

Pub Date: May 7, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION