Activism and Social Change - Lessons for Community and Local Organizing (Paperback)

Drawing on over 30 years of experience in community development practice, Shragge offers a historical look at community organizing and local activism from its development in 1960 to the contemporary practices of young activists today, 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 thirty years and introduces the basic themes of the book. From there, Shragge explores various theoretical models as well as historical traditions of community organizing with practice examples drawn from Quebec, as well as a survey of contributions from social movements, highlighting lines of continuity amongst and between them. A critical discussion of contemporary trends in community development practice is included as well as the future of local activism as described by young activists. The final chapter of the book 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.