From tactics to strategy

George Lakey

GOALS

To help participants move from think-ing tactically to strategically;
Introduction of a cognitive framework;
Consideration of the values of differenttactics as they fit within a larger strategy.

TIME

1.5 hours

HOW IT'S DONE

As activists, many of us love tactics! So here's a tool which uses that to help usthink about overall strategy more effectively.
    Two methods for introduction:
Method 1: Mingling
Hand out letter-sized pieces of blankpaper and invite participants to write on it their favourite tactics. (Review the defi-nition of a "tactic" and make sure it is inclusive, not only direct action but alsokinds of alternative institutions, or culture work, etc.) Once they have donethat, ask them to stand up and mingle, holding their paper in front of them. Asthey mingle, have them find others who in some way seem similar.
    Once the clusters have appeared, ask them to sit down in the clusters and talkabout what they find in common. Invite individuals to feel free to "try out" otherclusters if they suspect there might be a better match.
    When they've settled down, ask them to consider that there might be asequence to the clusters, that some clusters of tactics might better go before oth-ers in order to prepare the way or build capacity for later tactics. Ask the clustersto arrange themselves on the floor in sequence. This will be cheerfully chaoticand require some inter-cluster negotiation. A few individuals might shift again,also. Then move to the Debrief. Method 2: Brainstorm Tactics
Invite participants to brainstorm a list of their favourite tactics. (Review the definition of a "tactic" and make sure it is inclusive, not only direct action but alsokinds of alternative institutions, or culture work, etc.)
    After a range of tactics are on the list (20 or so is generally fine), get participants in small groups (four or five). In their small groups, have them take a sec-tion of the list (you might break it apart) and identify if they would put the tacticsin the beginning, middle, or end of a campaign. After working for a couple of minutes, have them share their results in the large group.
    After sharing, have the group notice what are themes. "How might we charac-terise the beginning stage? The middle stage? The end stage?" Notice majorthemes. Then move to the Debrief.

---DEBRIEF---

Creating a framework

What participants have just done is begin to make a broad, general framework ofwhy certain tactics make sense at certain moments (and less at others). Sometimestactics are elevated to a status where they are always appropriate or appropriate irre-gardless of strategy. Not so: tactics should be guided by strategy.

X-point plans

Invite participants to notice the decisions they already reached; ie why they decidedcertain tactics come before others and build on each other. Notice the tendencyof increasing capacity over time (effective strategies build capacity over time).
At this point, you might begin to introduce a particular framework (such asthe five-stage revolutionary framework developed by George Lakey, the eight-stage framework developed by Bill Moyer or the six-stage campaign planningframework by Martin Luther King Jr). Compare those frameworks with what thegroup created. Get clarity about the flow.
Not everyone will agree with anyframework (nor needs to)--it's in a spirit of exploring strategy lessons we can use!For more on the different frameworks for social change, see Frameworks for SocialChange under Tools on the Training for Change website.

George Lakey is the director of Training for Change. He began his career as a trainer at the Martin Luther King School for Social Change, and has since gone on to lead over 1000 workshops on five continents.
This workshop was first held in the Netherlands at an international nonviolence trainers conference in 1992. There are loads more workshop plans and ideas on the Training for Change website. Go and have a look! http://www.trainingforchange.org/tools/