Introduction
A Tactic Typology presented in a table by Daniel Hunter from Training for Change. The table serves as a guide to understanding the diversity of tactics available to social movements, their strategic purposes, and the possible impacts they can generate. It helps organisers and activists choose appropriate tactics based on their movement’s goals, context, and desired outcomes.
The three categories of tactics are:
- Symbolic Protest,
- Noncooperation (economic and political) and
- Alternative Cooperation.
Tactic Typology
View the Tactic Typology here or as a PDF below.
| SYMBOLIC PROTEST | NONCOOPERATION | ALTERNATIVE COOPERATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | To raise public awareness of an issue and persuade a target to act in a desired way | To undermine the authority of an unjust system by refusing to cooperate with it and making it harder, or impossible, for the system to keep its unfair policy | To actively cooperate with an alternative institution or policy by acting as though it is already in place, thereby challenging the current system/policy |
| When used effectively | •is a socially acceptable and often legal way to educate and raise public awareness •leads to less symbolic forms of action •can create safe and known actions for wider participation •shows injustice not just tells about it | •channels people’s frustration and anger into more spirited action •uses small numbers to grow a larger movement •highlights the injustice of the system, not just pulls out of it •is prepared for repression | •educates people in an experiential, participatory way •does not require large numbers of people to begin •avoids the question “why are we doing this” because its outcome is clear |
| When used ineffectively | •is only symbolic and does not lead to greater participation or change •burns out participants who see no way to change, only repeated protests •only speaks to those who already know the issue | •requires too much resource to win and therefore loses •becomes obsessed with action instead of ability to reach out to new people •stays isolated •does not connect to everyday issues | •is separated from the political world (e.g. organic co-ops without any connection to others) •is not a challenge to the policy opposed •is too confrontational for participants |
| Examples | marches, rallies, street theater, letter-writing, petition drive, skywriting, mock awards, picketing, group lobbying, mock elections, “haunting” officials, vigils, and turning one’s back | student strike, sanctuary, consumers’ boycott, rent withholding, refusal to pay taxes, industry strike, boycott of government supported organizations, boycott of elections | Citizens’ Document search, nonviolent land seizure, occupation of building, citizens’ arrests |
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