Transforming the Tide for Transformation

Yesterday, I was asked to give a talk on the City of Malabon University (CMU) for AB Political Science Students on a Lecture-Forum entitled "Political Science and its Place in the Society" as partial fulfillment of the requirements of PolSci 402 (Planning Method). Not being a polsci major, I considered talking about my "political" experiences as a development activist. But gauging that they need something more, I resorted to Saul Alinsky, the legendary community organizer.

Here is the presentation.

View more presentations from jmmiraflor.

Most of the points I raised here were derived from this very important book by Alinsky, "Rules for Radicals". To understand the importance of this book, we have to quote from the author himself:

"What follows is for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be. The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away,"

Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals": For the Have Nots

Niccolo Machiavelli's "The Prince": For the Haves

To quote wikipedia on Alinsky: "Saul David Alinsky (January 30, 1909, Chicago, Illinois – June 12, 1972, Carmel, California) was a community organizer and writer. He is generally considered to be the founder of modern community organizing in America. His ideas were adapted by some American college students and other young organizers in the late 1960s and formed part of their strategies for organizing on campus and beyond."

"Saul Alinsky died of a heart attack at the age of 63 in 1972."

Even Obama learned quite a few things from Alinsky.

It's fortunate that some students of CMU, as assisted by Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan (SDK) already had some experience in militant tactics as they campaigned against the assumption of the notorious Dr. Benjamin Tayabas as CMU president. I hope the presentation will be able to help them refine their tactics further.