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The Tactics Toolkit is a collection of guides covering a broad range of campaign actions, each explaining what the tactic is, its benefits and challenges, how to put it into practice, and including examples and case studies with videos, deeper resources, and links to related guides. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] The toolkit is still under construction, with more guides coming soon. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit]
The toolkit includes guides on specific tactics such as the Accountability Session, which is used in community organising to demonstrate power and hold decision-makers accountable. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] Bird-dogging involves tracking a target and showing up at public forums to put an issue on the agenda. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] Consumer Boycotts are the organised refusal to purchase or use goods and services from a business, organisation or country, lowering profits and generating negative publicity to pressure opponents into changing policies, practices and investments. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit]
Other tactics covered include Flash Mobs, described as a spontaneous, contagious, and often celebratory protest that uses social media or word of mouth to gather people on short notice in a particular place at a particular time. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] Sit-ins involve occupying an indoor space and holding it for a period. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] The Free Sticker tactic uses free stickers to spread a campaign message, build brand recognition, grow a supporter base and generate donations. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] Tripods are independent, free standing three pole structures lashed or clamped together and occupied by a person to blockade a road. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit]
The Tactics Toolkit builds on the classic 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action by Gene Sharp, which defines categories including Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion, Methods of Social Noncooperation, Methods of Economic Noncooperation (Economic Boycotts and The Strike), Methods of Political Noncooperation, and Methods of Nonviolent Intervention. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] Noncooperation is described as deliberately and strategically not cooperating with an opponent. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit]
Use it for
A campaigner uses the Tactics Toolkit to find practical, step-by-step guidance on a wide range of campaign actions, from accountability sessions and bird-dogging to consumer boycotts and flash mobs. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] Each guide helps a campaigner understand the benefits and challenges of a tactic, how to put it into practice, and provides real-world examples and case studies to learn from. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit] The toolkit also connects to the broader framework of Gene Sharp’s 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action, allowing a campaigner to situate their chosen tactic within a larger strategic repertoire of nonviolent action. [source: commons-tactics-toolkit]