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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. What are the drivers of change? • Innovation, markets, profits, investment • Planned policy driven change • Environmental change • Invasion • Migration • Revolution • Others? What are the levers of change (that I have access to)? • Voting • Petitioning and advocacy • Demonstrating • Alliances • What else? 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 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 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? 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? 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 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? 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? 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?