Rules of Activism

Since its founding, activists have demanded that the United States lives up to its democratic promise. Now, with Rules of Activism, Charles Euchner offers a concise "field guide" to the critical place of political and social movements in American politics.

Activists have always been at the center of democratic reform in America: abolitionism and suffragism, labor and urban reform, civil rights and antiwar protest, feminism and environmentalism. They have agitated and confronted authorities to promote basic rights, economic opportunity, and community wellbeing.

In this comprehensive guide, Euchner describes fifteen core rules of successful movements. In describing each rule, he offers compelling case studies of activists at work and then examines the rule�s underlying logic. Every aspect of activism is explored: recruitment, training, organizational development, leadership, strategy, tactics, and the pivot from protest to policy.

In a world of growing inequality and existential crises, activist politics has never been more important. Rules of Activism offers a necessary guide for practitioners, scholars and students, and ordinary citizens seeking to understand this core political practice. Introduction: ‘This is What Democracy Looks Like’
Part I: Insight and Outreach
Rule 1: Connect, Listen, and Share
Rule 2: Identify Gaps and Contradictions
Rule 3: Master the Big Idea
Rule 4: Map the Sites of Power
Part II: Building Capacity
Rule 5: Recruit Allies, Near and Far
Rule 6: Build a Strong Organization
Rule 7: Nurture Servant Leadership
Part III: Strategy and Tactics
Rule 8: Create a Multi-Dimensional Strategy
Rule 9: Work Off the Grid
Rule 10: Rally for Solidarity and Attention
Rule 11: Withdraw Consent
Rule 12: Block, Occupy, and Subvert
Rule 13: Create Enduring Symbols and Identity
Part IV: Win Some, Lose Some
Rule 14: Evolve Multi-Stage Campaigns
Rule 15: Pivot from Protest to Policy
Postscript: Activism and Democracy �Nonviolent movement building is one of the greatest of twentieth-century inventions, a way for the powerless to stand up to the powerful. But we don't study it systematically – there's no West Point for activists. That makes a book like this, rich in detail and history, tremendously useful to everyone trying to make change happen.�
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author of The End of Nature

"Surprisingly, there are relatively few books about protest movements with a practical, activist's orientation. Charles Euchner has developed fifteen helpful Rules of Activism that will inform and motivate anyone with a practical interest in protest, from beginners to seasoned organizers."
Jeff Goodwin, New York University

"This enticing, informative, and beautifully composed book not only captures the essence of activism but provides a powerful guide for those who wish to become active in the political and social arena. Euchner uses his in-depth understanding of activism across the centuries - drawing on a spectacular range of examples - to bring to life the importance of activism in any democracy."
Barry Bluestone, Northeastern University Charles Euchner is an independent writer whose books include Nobody Turn Me Around: A People’s History of the 1963 March on Washington.