Rules For Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals (Saul Alinsky)

I bought this book new, which is rare for me, but when I was at Chapters a little over two months ago and saw this on the shelf I just had to buy it. I find the movements of the 1960s and early 1970s fascinating. This book is a how-to manual for revolution (aka social change) form 1971. How could I not love this book?

Alinsky covers everything from the old debate of "does the means meet the end" to the desired qualities and methods of an organizer. Alinsky is careful to draw a line between leaders and organizers. In his form of revolution, there are no leaders; leaders gain and maintain power for their own gain, while organizers gather power for the use of others.

Alinsky likens his book to that of Machiavelli's The Prince, but designed not for rulers with power, but rather for the Have-Nots who wish to gain power. According the Alinksy, there are three classes of people: the Haves, Have-Nots and the Have-A-Little, Want Mores (the middle class). The natural progression of human society is that of a series of revolutions. The Have-Nots challenge the Haves and soon before the Haves, leaving others in the position of Have-Nots.

There exists no mountain tops in revolution, but rather a series of mountains with a higher plateau each time. "Life is there ahead of you and either one tests oneself in its changes," Alinsky writes, "or huddles in the valleys in a dreamless day-to-day existence whose only purpose is the preservation of an illusionary security  and safety."

Alinsky's work is about not hiding in the valleys, but rather facing the mountains. He tells readers how to effectively face the mountains and how not tackle issues. He suggest what will and will not work when trying to mobilize people. He speaks of life as a continuous education for both organizers and those who are organized.

Sadly, even though he died in 1972--over forty years ago--his forecast for "the second revolution" one in which people cry for "a purpose in life--a cause to live for and it need be die for," has not been realized as he seems to suggest would occur in the final page of his book. Strangely enough though, I feel as though the middle class is getting closer to the stage where we are willing to take on corporations and corrupt government to create a meaningful life apart from empty suburban consumerism. I suppose there is one thing I can say for sure; my generation is disillusioned. Perhaps a symptom of the coming change is our love for irony?  . . . . Then again maybe we'll just settle into the suburbs like each generation before us eventually did.

I'd rather be a radical than a reactionary. I'd rather try than remain stagnant.