The Activists’ Handbook: A step-by-step guide to participatory democracy

by Aidan Ricketts

A priceless resource for everyone ready to make a difference, environmental activist Aidan Ricketts offers a step-by-step handbook for citizens eager to start or get involved in grass-roots movements and beyond.

Providing all essential practical tools, methods and strategies needed for a successful campaign and extensively discussing legal and ethical issues, this book empowers its readers to effectively promote their cause. Lots of ready-to-use documents and comprehensive information on digital activism and group strategy make this book an essential companion for any campaign.

Including case studies from the US, UK, Canada and Australia, this is the ultimate guidebook to participatory democracy.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Activism

282 pages, ebook

First published March 8, 2012

Reviews

[Kevin O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely read like a textbook and that was very beneficial from the standpoint of it being a comprehensive, step-by-step guide. Wasn't shocked by any of the concepts, but I appreciated the straightforward way the information was communicated. It sharpened my understanding of several key concepts including:

-The main purpose of activism being to sway public opinion
-The necessity for activist groups to have overall objectives that they define beyond the realm of a single immediate goal
-How fucked the legal system is because it protects private rights rather than public wellbeing
-How fucked corporations are because their sole aim is to ensure their own survival, even at the opposition of human wellbeing
-Terrorism and fearmongering have historically been used as excuses to enact legislation that suppresses dissent and protest rights
-In negotiation, it pays to work with peoples' interests rather than getting entrenched in the demonization of their positions (look for the values they are holding)

I will say, some of this felt like a drag. Although, I suppose it is hard to make a chapter on litigation compelling. Also, I wish there would have been more recognition or focus on areas of anti-oppressive activism. As an environmental activist, the author only seemed to include environmental examples. That also tended to make the book not super inclusive at all. This was mostly exemplified when the author promotes the idea of having a police liaison when organizing a protest.

Overall, a good, but generalized, approach, and one I will look to should I ever be in the central operations of an activist operation.

[Anfenwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the ideal reader for this book would be just starting to get involved in some sort of activism, either a starting a cause or joining an established one. It gives just the kind of high-level orientation they probably need. Warning: it isn't more than a high-level orientation and won't tell you everything you need to do!

If the reader is more experienced, the nitty-gritty practical details are probably going to seem too general, too vague, or too incomplete. The book tried to address an international readership and all varieties of activism. Experienced activists probably (hopefully) already have a good grasp of specific laws and strategies that apply to them. On the other hand, I kept wanting to share this book with some of my activist friends because the author is brilliant at dissecting the philosophical and conceptual issues which seem to keep giving them grief.

I'm not officially involved in any activist movement (yet, who knows?) so I was reading for general interest. That made a few chapters seem a bit dry, but overall, the conceptual and analytical clarity made it interesting and informative.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This practical guide to participatory democracy is fantastic. It draws on decades of experience, as is evidenced in the help given in avoiding typical pitfalls at each stage of your campaign. Another extremely valuable characteristic is its comprehensiveness - of great use whether you want to organise at grassroots level, coordinate a sizeable media campaign, lobby elected representatives or more.

[Chay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great guide to activism, strategy and tactics. A must read for anyone working for social change.

[Ramez · Rating 3 out of 5]

(: كتيب ارشادى للنشطاء السياسين

[Susan Wight · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most important book I've read recently, now covered in post-it notes.