In this chapter, we explain what a campaign strategy is. We show various examples of different types of campaign strategies that activists use, and we provide you with workshops to help you write your own!
With a good campaign strategy, your movement or campaign makes more impact. In the articles below, we help you define what exactly the change is that you want to achieve, and what steps you need to take to get there.
Before you can start to define your strategy, you need to get a group of likeminded people together and organise yourselves. After you have defined your strategy, we recommend you to browse through our list of tactics to get inspiration.
Stay focused on your goal, by Joppe | Generated using Dall-e
Write your strategy
๐ก Vision
๐ Stakeholders
๐ฏ Goals
โ Objectives
โก๏ธ Tactics
โ Evaluation
Other strategy guides
Local context
The local context across countries can impact activists trying to develop their strategy in various ways. For example, the political system, the legal framework, the media landscape, the cultural norms, and the public opinion can all affect the opportunities and challenges that activists face. Depending on the context, activists may need to adapt their goals, tactics, messages, allies, and risks. Some general examples are:
In a democratic country with a strong civil society and a free press, activists may have more space to voice their demands and mobilize support through peaceful protests, petitions, campaigns, and lobbying.
In an authoritarian country with a repressive regime and a controlled media, activists may have less space to express their dissent and may face more threats and violence. They may need to use more covert and creative ways to communicate and organize, such as encryption, art, humor, or symbolism.
In a country with a diverse and divided society, activists may have to deal with different and sometimes conflicting interests and identities among their potential supporters and opponents. They may need to build bridges and coalitions across different groups and sectors, and avoid alienating or polarizing others.
In a country with a dominant and oppressive culture, activists may have to challenge deeply ingrained norms and values that justify or normalize injustice and discrimination. They may need to raise awareness and educate people about the issues they are fighting for, and use cultural expressions and narratives that resonate with their audience.
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Improve this chapter
You can make this chapter about campaign strategies better!
Some potential new sub-pages:
Interventions: things your movement can change about society/in a community (see more in โtypes of strategiesโ)
problem analysis (a workshop style article?)
Chapter organisation:
- Add link to โpower mappingโ guide on โstakeholdersโ page
Search keywords
People are searching for:
Keywords | Monthly global searches* | Relevancy |
---|---|---|
strategy activism | 0 | high |
activist strategy | 70 | medium |
activist strategies | 160 | high |
campaign strategy | 2.7K | high |
forms of activism | 330 | high |
types of activism | 1.3K | high |
How to deal with opposition | 140 | high |
problem analysis | 6.6K | low |
root cause analysis | 90.5K | low |
5why analysis | 14.8K | low |
How to be an effective ally | 30 | high |
How to run an effective campaign | 20 | medium |
How to make your activism more effective | 0 | high |
power mapping (overlap with irrelevant โpower outage mapโ) | 9.9K | medium |
*According to Semrush
External resources
Creative Commons resources
Campaign Strategy: Start Here by Commons Library
Collection: Developing a Strategic Plan by Community Tool Box
Developing Strategic and Action Plans by Community Tool Box
Collection: Assessing Community Needs and Resources by Community Tool Box
Collection: Analyzing Community Problems and Solutions by Community Tool Box
Collection: Deciding Where to Start by Community Tool Box
Collection: Choosing and Adapting Community Interventions by Community Tool Box
Strategy by The Change Agency
Systems Thinking and Campaigning by Nicky Ison
Starting an initiative by the Citizen's Handbook
Copyright resources
Gene Sharp, The Politics of Nonviolent Action [Book].
How to Move from Vision to Action by Mary Joyce
Choose Your Own Activism Strategy Adventure by Mary Joyce
Developing Strategic Campaigns: An ITF Manual for Trade Union Activists, Educators and Organisers by International Transport Workers' Union
The People Power Manual by The Change Agency