Activism and Social Change: Lessons for Community Organizing, Second Edition

Drawing on over thirty years of experience in community development practice, Eric Shragge offers a unique historical perspective on activism, linking various forms of local organizing to the broader goal of fundamental social change. 
This new edition places contemporary community organizing in a post-9/11 context and includes a discussion of national and international organizing efforts—in the Middle East, in the Occupy movement, in European resistance to austerity measures, and in recent student protests in Quebec. A new chapter-length case study covering Shragge's long-term involvement with the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal offers one of the few English-language discussions of community organizing in Quebec. Activism and Social Change is an excellent core or supplementary text in courses on social movements, community organizing, or community development.

Politics & Social Sciences

Shragge, Eric

Social Sciences

University of Toronto Press

Sociology

University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division

Drawing on over 30 years of experience in community development practice, Shragge offers students and professionals an historical look at community organizing and local activism from its development in 1960 to the contemporary practices of today's young activists, adding his personal reflections along the way. In the process, he makes links between a variety of forms of local organizing and the broader goal of fundamental social change.
The book begins with the author's reflection on several of his experiences in community organizing practice over the past 30 years as an introduction to his basic themes. The second chapter explores various theoretical models as well as historical traditions of community organizing with practice examples drawn from Quebec. The third chapter presents a survey of contributions to social action organizing from Saul Alinsky to the New Left, feminist, and other social movements, highlighting lines of continuity among and between them. The fourth chapter examines contemporary trends in, and problems associated with, community development practice, including a critical discussion of the community economic development model. Drawing on in-depth interviews, the fifth chapter analyses the future of local activism by integrating the voices and visions of young activists with theory and practice. The final chapter offers a way to understand the history, theory, and practice of local activism and community organizing within the context of the broader fight for social change.
All royalties from this book will be contributed to the Immigrant Workers Centre, Montreal.

Activism and Social Change: Lessons for Community and Local Organizing

Examining immigration within an international context, this discussion explores the complex issues surrounding immigrant workers. Based on the collaboration between a group of university-affiliated researchers and community organizations, this detailed study explores the policies regarding immigrants and presents an account of an advocacy group constantly striving to improve their rights. Documenting actual experiences in a variety of workplaces, this is a valuable guide to fighting against injustice without jeopardizing the status of international employees.

Fight Back: Workplace Justice for Immigrants (Basics from Fernwood Publishing)

Choudry, Aziz

Jordan, Steve

Hanley, Jill

Stiegman, Martha

Fernwood Publishing

Community Economic Development

Politics & Government

Black Rose Books

Community Economic Development: Building for Social Change

Business & Money

Toye, Michael

Economics

Cape Breton University Press

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