Organizing

Right Wing Taking Cues From Saul Alinsky?

On his Comm-Org listserv, Randy Stoecker, a professor in the Community and Environmental Sociology department at the University of Wisconsin, talks about an emerging meme comparing the right wing activists’ […]

On his Comm-Org listserv, Randy Stoecker, a professor in the Community and Environmental Sociology department at the University of Wisconsin, talks about an emerging meme comparing the right wing activists’ recent disruptions of health care forums to “Alinsky’s tactics.”

“I was intrigued by that comparison. Having elected a president who owes his election at least partly to community organizers, what ground do liberals gain by making such a comparison. And is it accurate? Are right wing groups really building grass-roots organizations and engaging in strategic actions? Or is this just right-wing-media-generated frenzy without any real organizing going on?”