Initially published in 1971, Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals is considered as emotional guidance to the young radicals who intend to construct or bring meaningful social change in society effectively. The book gives an opportunity for the young social change workers or radicals to know the difference between being rhetorical radical and being a realistic radical. This book was written at a time when there was political development which the author was questioning. Therefore, the book offers a style that he used in questioning the political events, which can be used by 21^st-century young social worker student. The author incorporated a combination of in person and his writing to describe the political engagement with a conclusive persistence on lucid political dialogue and devotion to the American tradition of democracy. This book is a key guide for upcoming social workers and radicals to enable them to sharpen their approaches to achieve the issues they are advocating for effectively.

Saul Alinsky provides a tactical scenario approach for the 21^st-century social worker students to use in their future roles as social workers. According to Saul, understand the moves and tactics used by the opposition gives social workers an exceptional advantage. After reading this book, I came to believe that it was reading for me to progress my career beyond the expectations I had earlier set. The simple rules and methods used in this simple playbook have served as a hidden force behind some of the successful campaigns for many years, and it is no doubt that it will be a success upon my application. This book resonates with me because it empowers me and my fellow young social workers students and change agents to employ subversive tactics.

One of the things that interest me in the book is how Saul arranges and organizes his rules for better change advocacy using the rules. Saul Alinsky provided 13 rules for Radicals that purely resonates with my intention of becoming a social change agent. These rules are exceptional guidance to the approach I would use in case of a crisis. In the first rule, Saul states that power is not only what you have but also what the opposition think you possess. Secondly, he says that as a change agent, never go outside your people’s expertise because this would definitely result in confusion, retreat, and fear. To maintain the rhythm, it is essential to set an environment where I feel secure. I see the details of the book as practical and objective because it would enable me to practice this art with a lot of enthusiasm and tactics. In the third rule, Saul states that you should go outside the opposition’s expertise to cause confusion, insecurity, uncertainty, and anxiety. An amusing part is the fourth rule. I find it hilarious and very tactical as well. I will approach this rule by keeping the opposition busy by ensuring they live up to their own book of rules. He goes ahead to offer other key rules that we, as modern social change agents, should employ in our practice. These rules include ridiculing as the most potent weapon of a man, choosing a tactic that you enjoy implementing, and neglecting a tactic that drags you too long, and encourages change agents to keep piling pressure by trying new things to ensure that opposition remains off-balance. Sometimes, the reality can really hit you when the threat becomes more terrifying than the thing itself. Saul teaches us not to apply imaginations and ego in our approaches. Other rules include developing operations which will maintain a constant pressure to the opposition, using constructive alternative, and picking the target, freezing it, personalizing it, and polarizing it.

This book is an inspiration to my social work practice because it offers me with guidance and best practice approach to use to be successful. For example, in a case where my opponent is independent, educated, and morally strong people, I will try to avoid such groups or individuals because they are not easy to manipulate. This book is inspiring because it equips me with the ability to identify and defeat the divisive tactics used by the opponents. Reading this book provides the 21^st-century social change agent with the ability to know the tactics of the political left. The approaches used in this book will enable us to less likely fall into the traps of the opposition and better defeat them in appearance, communication, reputation, policy, and in appearance. It teaches us the importance of knowing ourselves and the opposition.

The rules that Alinsky provides from this book resulted from his personal experience as a community organizer; based on the lessons he learned and served as a guide for the new generation of radical who emerged from the 1960s. Most of the young social agents reading this book will learn practical approaches to community organization by using a common method to bring order and peace in the community through advocacy.

However, following these rules have certain risks that must be pointed out. It is essential to note that much of the rules and instructions that Alinsky offers have only been effective in low-income urban regions. The rules may not be effective in organizing all low-income communities. Additionally, Alinsky’s application of artificially stimulated conflict can be effective in regions that often thrive in unity. In the Rules for Radicals, Alinsky portrays believed on the significance of allowing the community to determine its actual objective. He would then produce an enemy for the community to conflict. However, the intention of the conflict was generally left for the community to decide. In communities that live in peace, applying the Rules for Radicals can be a great disturbance to their harmony.

In conclusion, the Rules for Radicals, a book written by Saul Alinsky is regarded as demonstrative guidance to the 21^st-century generation of social workers who intend to bring social changes to the society by organizing the community behind a common cause. Alinsky effectively describes the rules that the young generation of social change agents can employ in community organization to bring effective change. Using the tactics embedded in this book will offer the social workers the ability to manipulate the enemy to achieve the intended cause of the advocacy. Employing Alinsky’s tactics will help the young generation understand themselves and also understand their enemies and most of them are practical approaches learned from his experience as a community organizer. The book has deeply inspired me and my social work, and I will always use as a guide to achieving my dreams.

References

Alinsky, S. D. (1989). Rules for Radicals: A practical primer for realistic radicals. Vintage.

Forman, H. J., Augusto, O., Brigelius-Flohe, R., Dennery, P. A., Kalyanaraman, B., Ischiropoulos, H., … & Davies, K. J. (2015). Even free radicals should follow some rules: a guide to free radical research terminology and methodology. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 78, 233-235.