Keywords: Power Mapping, Corporations, Activist Campaign
This guide explains how to plan an activist campaign focusing on a private corporation so that it changes its decision making.
Author: DataCentre, Oakland, 2010
Campaign goals: Campaigns are not “wars” and campaigners must be mindful that their objective is not to “destroy” the target, but to change its behavior or practices and, if possible, those of its peers.
Strategy: developing a long-term strategic plan is essential to succeeding in a campaign. Company management – particularly the CEO – is often focused on long-term strategy, and campaigners, in order to get inside the CEO’s head, have to think the same way…the campaign must perform extensive power structure research to better understand the company’s supporting infrastructure and vulnerabilities.
Implementation: Successful implementation of a campaign involves effectively applying numerous tactics simultaneously and/or in proper sequence. One of the most important tools in any corporate campaign is media and public relations. Another essential part of campaign implementation is the injection of campaign issues into the regulatory and public process. The campaign should call on government officials to hold open hearings and investigations.