Grassroots
- For other meanings, see Grass roots (disambiguation).
A grassroots movement (often referenced in the context of a political movement) is one driven by the constituents of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it is natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures.
Contents |
Technique
Grassroots organize and lobby through procedures including:
- hosting house meetings or parties
- having larger meetings—AGMs
- putting up posters
- talking with pedestrians on the street (often involving informational clipboards)
- gathering signatures for petitions
- setting up information tables
- raising money from many small donors for political advertising or campaigns
- organizing large demonstrations
- asking individuals to submit opinions to media outlets and government officials
- holding get out the vote activities, which include the practices of reminding people to vote and transporting them to polling places.
Origins
In the United States, the first use of the word "grassroots and boots" is thought to have been coined by Senator Albert Jeremiah Beveridge of Indiana, who declared of the Progressives Party in 1912 that: "This party [the Progressive Party] has come from the grass roots. It has grown from the soil of people's hard necessities." [1]
Faking a grassroots movement is known as astroturfing. Astroturfing—as the name suggests—is named after a brand of artificial grass, AstroTurf. Astroturfing is similar in practice to the grassroots movement, except that the lobbyists behind it hide their agenda by pretending to be individuals voicing their opinions. The term has incorporated itself into common speech. [2]
The progressive movement works in small communities with a lot of overlap. From the antiwar to clean elections, progressive activists have their issues and work hard toward advancing those issues in various groups. Although many activists, energy, and organizing models overlap, there is very little coordination with such activities nationwide. Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) has initiated and embraced a Grassroots Fusion model of organizing:
- Grassroots fusion: uniting various groups based on issues/platform toward open dialogue and coordinated efforts void of losing individuality of each groups mission/vision/identity within the community.
References
- ^ Courtesy: Eigen's Political & Historical Quotations Beveridge, Albert J. (05-20-06).
- ^ Walter Truett Anderson. "Astroturf -- The Big Business of Fake Grassroots Politics", 01-05-96.
See also
- Grassroots democracy
- grassroots organizing
- Public Relations
- GlobalGiving
- Astroturfing
- List of grassroots organizations
- Teaching for social justice
- Union Organizer
- Community practice
External link
- "Community Support - A Strategic Plan to Turn Out the Troops, by Debra Stein"
- The Citizen's Handbook (guides to grassroots/community organizing)
- Grassroots.org (Providing free services to non-profits and charities.)
- Orion Grassroots Network (Delivers services and support to grassroots organizations engaged in ecological, social, and cultural change)