Better Call Saul: Mastering the Art of Social Activism for Conservatives

Saul Alinsky imparted 10 valuable lessons in effective activism to some of our most successful progressive leaders. It’s now time for conservatives to draw inspiration from his teachings.

Saul Alinsky was a lightning rod for controversy when he spearheaded community organizing in Chicago during the mid-20th century. His disciples include young twenty-somethings named Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Alinsky’s radical vision rattled even the most progressive thinkers, and his work was instrumental in crafting what is now known as the “Rules for Radicals"—a potent playbook for activists seeking to push back against the status quo.

Born in 1909 into a working-class family, Alinsky had a front-row seat to the struggles faced by marginalized communities. With an unwavering commitment to grassroots, he united diverse immigrant populations in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood to demand better wages and living conditions. He also empowered African-American residents in Woodlawn to fight housing discrimination and racial inequality.

Always emphasizing nonviolence, Alinsky organized protests, sit-ins, and other forms of civil disobedience to bring about meaningful change. His tactics were soon adopted as part of the civil rights movement’s toolkit and ultimately showed that activism starts with ordinary citizens speaking up for their rights.

In 1971, Saul Alinsky published “Rules for Radicals,” which outlined principles of public engagement to empower people to challenge systemic injustice.

1. Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have. Alinsky emphasized the importance of perception. Make your opponents believe you have more power and influence than you do.
2. Never go outside the experience of your people. Alinsky stressed the need to build on the strengths and experiences of the people they aim to mobilize.
3. Whenever possible, go outside the experience of your enemy. Conversely, Alinsky recommended surprising your opponents by adopting strategies they don’t anticipate.
4. Make the enemy live up to its book of rules. Hold your adversaries accountable by challenging them to uphold their values, no matter how obsolete or out of context.
5. Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. Alinsky believed satire was a powerful tool for exposing an opponent’s weaknesses.
6. A good tactic is one your people enjoy. Activists should take actions that delight and entertain their community. It does not matter how desperate or depraved they may be.
7. Keep the pressure on. Alinsky emphasized the importance of relentless pressure on those in power to force concessions.
8. The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself. Often, the fear of change is greater than the consequences. Exploit this fear to your advantage.
9. The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative. When challenging the status quo, activists must offer positive alternatives.
10. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Focus your efforts on a specific target, personalize the issue, and create a clear division.