By Jane F. McAlevey
The concern of the innovative stream is so obtrusive that not anything under a basic rethinking of its uncomplicated assumptions is needed. cutting-edge progressives now paintings for pro agencies more well-off with the interior online game in Washington DC (and capitols during the West), the place they're outmatched and outspent via company pursuits. hard work unions now specialise in the narrowest attainable figuring out of the pursuits in their participants, and club maintains to say no in lockstep with the narrowing in their pursuits. in the meantime, promising routine like Occupy Wall highway and Black Lives subject lack adequate energy to complete significant switch. Why do progressives within the usa hold wasting on such a lot of concerns?
In No Shortcuts, Jane McAlevey argues that progressives can win, yet lack the prepared energy to enact major switch, to out live their bosses in hard work fights, and to carry elected leaders responsible. Drawing upon her adventure as a student and longtime organizer within the scholar, environmental, and hard work routine, McAlevey examines circumstances from hard work unions and social activities to pinpoint the standards that helped them prevail - or fail - to complete their meant targets. McAlevey makes a compelling case that the nice social hobbies of earlier eras received their strength from mass organizing, a method present day progressives have often deserted in prefer of shallow mobilization or advocacy. She finally concludes that, so that it will win, innovative activities desire powerful unions outfitted from bottom-up organizing techniques that position the ability for swap within the arms of staff and traditional humans on the group point.
Beyond the concrete examples during this e-book, McAlevey's arguments have direct implications for an individual fascinated about organizing for social switch. even more than cogent research, No Shortcuts explains precisely how progressives can pass approximately rebuilding strong activities at paintings, in our groups, and on the poll box.
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No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age
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Extra resources for No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age
Example text
19 This book’s purpose is to draw lessons for power building from the best examples of success under the most difficult conditions. This book is not about union organizing; it is about organizing. That unions are the focus is a hint to social scientists and the intelligentsia that the failure to study or understand unions as social movements has resulted in a lack of understanding of the most effective way to build power. In the new millennium, as in the past, meaningful union success requires building to majorities in the workplace, a setting that does represent the most difficult conditions.
Frances and Larry were early readers of the manuscript, and each came to the same conclusion: I should weather the political storm generated by my first book by going to graduate school for a few years. They’ve always given me good advice, and I thank each of them enormously for guiding me through complicated chapters of my life. Frances became in academia what Larry had been in my SEIU years, an incredible mentor. Once I made the decision to go back to school, there was the vexing issue of how to afford life in New York City as a graduate student.
Frances and Larry were early readers of the manuscript, and each came to the same conclusion: I should weather the political storm generated by my first book by going to graduate school for a few years. They’ve always given me good advice, and I thank each of them enormously for guiding me through complicated chapters of my life. Frances became in academia what Larry had been in my SEIU years, an incredible mentor. Once I made the decision to go back to school, there was the vexing issue of how to afford life in New York City as a graduate student.