theories of social change: the basis of activist strategy

1. Theories of social change:the basis of activist strategy Acknowledgement to Coover V, Deacon E, Esser C, et al. Resource manual for a living revolution: a handbook of skills and tools for social change activists. Philadelphia: New Society, 1985.

2. What are the drivers of change? Innovation, markets, profits, investment Planned policy driven change Environmental change Invasion Migration Revolution Others?

3. What are the levers of change (that I have access to)? Voting Petitioning and advocacy Demonstrating Alliances What else?

4. What are the theories of social change which inform our practice? Reflect on episodes from our own practice What were our assumptions about people, power, structures, about the links between micro action and macro change about how change happens Talk about our own theories Share stories of practice and reflect upon the theories that might be inferred from the practice described What do these existing theories offer Talk about our own theories Share stories of practice and reflect upon the theories that might be inferred from the practice described What do these existing theories offer

5. Can we read the theories of social change from other people’s stories of practice? Infer theories of change from stories of practice eg the Indian Right to Health campaign Talk about our own theories Share stories of practice and reflect upon the theories that might be inferred from the practice described What do these existing theories offer Talk about our own theories Share stories of practice and reflect upon the theories that might be inferred from the practice described What do these existing theories offer

6. Studying case histories Studying episodes, movements, campaigns, traditions Framework of analysis narrative: context, preparation, organisation, action, reaction, consequences levels: personal, community, national, global; term: short, medium and long disciplines: political economy, gender and race, Talking theory the participants’ theory? our theorising (interpreting) the story?

7. To what extent are we drawing from pre-existing theories? What are the theories of social change we might draw from: Marxism, anarchism, feminism, religions, non-violent protest, personal change, institutional reform, cabalism? Talk about our own theories Share stories of practice and reflect upon the theories that might be inferred from the practice described What do these existing theories offer Talk about our own theories Share stories of practice and reflect upon the theories that might be inferred from the practice described What do these existing theories offer

8. Strategic planning Goals and vision Achievable objectives Context and environment SWOT Existing programs and activities new programs and activities Developing the organisation structures, procedures, cultures Evaluation

9. Scenarios of change Working on our immediate challenges how might things be different (brainstorming)? scenarios of change; how might a different world come into being? what are the (plausible) dynamics of change? implications for different players and how would they react? implications for strategy?

10. Primary health care (A-A,1978) “... requires and promotes maximum community and individual self-reliance and participation in the planning, organization, operation and control of primary health care, making fullest use of local, national and other available resources; and to this end develops through appropriate education the ability of communities to participate” What is the theory of change here?

11. Alma-Ata How does PHC develop the ability of communities to participate? What are the scenarios of change you can read into this quote? How does community participation affect health?