Social activist and community organizer Saul Alinsky, is widely known for his book, Rules For Radicals. Alinsky recognized the lack of focus and ineffectiveness of many “Have-nots” as he called them. He began to document successful practices that he had witnessed to be a catalyst for change.
As with most problems, solutions are not always black and white. Alinsky’s techniques, when implemented can border on harassment and possibly violate an individual’s ethics, but that does not mean that it should be dismissed. On the contrary, the end result must be kept in mind, and at times, the end, counterbalances the means. This tightrope walk, is an age-old problem, and will probably be faced by our progeny many centuries in the future.
Now that I am aware of the process, I have witnessed the power these ideas repeatedly. According to Alinsky, the “Have-nots can pressure the “Haves”” to change their behavior. The “Haves” may be an organization, a religious group, or some form of government, and in many cases they mistreat the “Have-nots” and do not consider the best interest of the common man. This is the purpose for using “Rules For Radicals,” to bring about some level of equality.