Strategy & Tactics

BILL MOYER (1933-2002), MNS co-founder and most influential strategist, along with George Lakey (below), is best known for his “Movement Action Plan” (MAP) conceptual framework. Its comprehensive descriptions of his “Eight Stages of Social Movements” and “Four Roles of Activists” are detailed in his seminal organizing manual, “Doing Democracy: The MAP Model for Organizing Social Movements.” See Bill Moyer’s final training video and full explanation, charts and related resources at ActivistTools.org.

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GEORGE LAKEY, MNS co-founder, strategist and trainer, in his 2019 manual, “How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning” argues for the need to “build an [intersectional] movement of movements” based on a “practical and radical vision” that:

1. 1. Builds credibility
   2. Confirms the perception that all progressive causes are blocked by the economic elite
   3. Connects the desired future with innovations happening now, and
   4. Provides a common platform on which multiple movements can unite.

Lakey further explains:

“Nonviolent direct action is a set of tactics that go outside conventional means of advocacy… Community organizers sometimes call it ‘street heat’ — blocking entrances, boycotting, fasting, tree-sitting…” And none are more qualified to interpret and promote the MNS approach to “Analysis, Vision and Strategy,” having lived, learned and developed it throughout his six full decades as a leader in many movements and campaigns from Civil Rights and Vietnam to the Movement for Black Lives. See his many articles and essays at WagingNonviolence.org.

See Lakey’s strategy video, Polarization & “How We Win”
and his new bio doc and trailer at GeorgeLakeyFilm.com.

Other prominent MNS authors, theorists and strategists include: David Albert, Michael Beer (NonviolenceInternational.net), Steve Chase (Solidarity 2020 and Beyond), Chuck Collins (IPS-DC.org), George Lakey, Robert A. Irwin (Building a Peace System ; digital searchable), Barbara Jensen,  Jerry Koch-Gonzalez, Pamela Haines, Betsy Leondar-Wright, Stephen Zunes. Other prolific MNS writers now deceased include: Lynne Shivers, Lillian and George Willoughby, and Felice Yeskel. Find more at MNS Authors & Books about Movement for a New Society: Training, vision, strategy more. Find MNS archives in Swarthmore Library Peace Collection.

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