Title - 'Tactics Toolkit'. 5 icons below title. 1. Person holding sign above head. 2. Two hands in a cross. 3. a person sitting crossed legged. 4. Pen and paper. 5. A circle with a line though it.

Tactics Toolkit

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Introduction

The Commons is building a Tactics Toolkit with helpful guides on a broad range of campaign actions. 

The Tactics Toolkit will be a special part of our rebuilt Commons website – coming soon! In the meantime you can access guides as we add them here.

Each tactics guide explains what the tactic is, its benefits and challenges, how to put it into practice, and includes examples and case studies (with videos), deeper resources, and links to related guides.

Do you have a tactic guide to add to the toolkit, or funds to help us build it? Get in touch!

Tactics

Accountability Session

Title reads 'Accountability sessions'. At the top in yellow semi-circle text reads 'Tactic'. Illustration of a group of people sitting in chairs facing a stage with three people sitting on the stage.

Accountability Session – The Accountability Session is a tactic used in community organising to demonstrate power and hold decision-makers accountable.  

Bird-dogging

Title reads 'Bird-dogging'. A person speaks at a lecturn to an audience. Two people are at the side holding placards up above the heads.

Bird-dogging – This tactic involves neither birds or dogs! It’s all about tracking your target and showing up at public forums to put your issue on the agenda. 

Flash Mobs

Title reads 'Flash Mobs'. In half circle tab at top reads 'Tactic'. Graphic of a crowd of people.

Flash Mobs – A spontaneous, contagious, and often celebratory protest that often uses social media or word of mouth to gather people on short notice in a particular place at a particular time. – Beautiful Trouble

Sit-ins

Title reads 'Sit-ins'. A row of people sitting crossed legged on the ground. At the top in a half circle it reads 'Tactic'.

Sit-ins – A sit-in involves occupying an indoor space and holding it for a period. 

Tripods

Title 'Tripods'. A person with a loudhailer stands on top of a 3 legged structure / tripod.

Tripods – A tripod is an independent, free standing three pole structure that is lashed or clamped together and occupied by a person to blockade a road – Earth First Direct Action Manual

Methods of Nonviolent Action

The Tactics Toolkit builds on the classic 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action by Gene Sharp. Sharp defined different categories of tactics:

Noncooperation

Title reads 'Noncooperation'. Icon of two hands held out in a X formation. Top half yellow circle reads 'Tactic'.

Noncooperation – Noncooperation is when we deliberately and strategically do not cooperate with our opponent.

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