The Alinsky Model

Definition: The Alinsky Model is a conflict-oriented form of community organizing developed by Saul Alinsky in Chicago in the 1930s. "Alinsky's type of organizing is based on building political power and using it to confront authority - generally through employing social action - and, if necessary, force those in power to negotiate. This kind of organizing is still widely used and still effective, especially in situations where power has long been in the same hands." Source: Section 4. Social Action. (n.d.). Community Tool Box. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/promotion-strategies/systems-advocacy-and-community-organizing/main

Application: The Alinksy Model is an important tool for community developers, especially when working with communities who have historically and continue to hold little power. A great example of applying the Alinsky Model that is extremely relevant right now in community development efforts is organizing large numbers of parents and other community stakeholders in a low-income community to show up at their community's school board meeting to put pressure on the board to concretely address the presence of police officers in schools.    

Adaptation: The Alinsky Model can be easily applied to the context of education, specifically in terms of making student voice heard. For example, many student groups at universities across the country have used the Alinsky model to demand lower tuition and greater university transparency. Because of the power imbalance between the administration and the students, conflict-oriented tactics are often the only way to get the administration to really listen.