Prisms of the People

"In recent years we have been seeing many grassroots groups forming at the local level aimed at issues such as women's rights, the rights of Dreamers, and policing in minority communities, among others. Creating collective action, particularly among the poor and marginalized, is difficult. But we have seen remarkable campaigns that have galvanized many who feel powerless in our society. The authors of this book explore the obstacles to collective action and the creative ways in which they have been overcome. Their approach is to study improbable cases of successful collective action. They argue that the power of these groups comes from the "politics of articulation" or the ability of the group to understand their interests and strengths, to build on those strengths in developing strategies, to respond flexibly to an uncertain political environment, and to know what the group can effectively do to achieve their goals. It de-emphasizes the size of the group and its ability to raise money"--