26 pages 52 minutes read

Saul D. Alinsky

Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1969

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Index of Terms

Radicals

A radical is one who desires to bring about a revolution and is willing to take dramatic and radical action. They are willing to go against social norms and contracts and to be a social outcast for the sake of a good cause. They are committed to change at all costs. Their only commitment is the final goal; all other things are subsumed by this.

Organizer

An organizer is a radical of a particular kind. They organize the radicals and their movement into a cohesive, effective unit. The organizer is in charge of communication and direction; they act as a mediator between those who make up the status quo and the rebels and revolutionists attempting to bring about social change.

Community

The community is the collection of people affected by coming change brought about by the radicals and organizer. The community is the most important piece of the puzzle: it is the community that is affected most, that is capable of making and sustaining change, and that has the power of inviting outsiders in and rejecting those who do not fit.