Advocacy for Social Change ― Coalitions and the Organizations That Lead Them

This book portrays how small, geographically dispersed, progressive social change and social service organizations working within a coalition are able to influence national level social policies. Based on extensive empirical research focused on two national organizations that exist to protect lower income communities, and three more local organizations associated with them, it shows how such organizations achieve success by establishing professionally staffed national level organizations that coordinate coalition efforts, mobilize members into action, provide information, analysis and instruction to facilitate such action, and act as the public voice for the coalitions. Presenting an empirically based model of how these national organizations develop and the ways in which they motivate and facilitate progressive social actions, Advocacy for Social Change illustrates the tactics used through numerous examples of policy actions on housing and economic justice concerns. An account of why coalitions are necessary, this volume traces their evolution and explores the ways in which social actions are stimulated and implemented. As such, it will appeal to scholars of sociology with interests in social problems, political sociology, urban studies and community development.

Herbert J. Rubin is a retired professor of sociology from Northern Illinois University. His interests are in urban studies, community organizing and research methods, with a focus on organizations working to help low income individuals and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods of deprivation. He is author of Renewing Hope within Neighborhoods of Despair: The Community-Based Development Model Albany and co-author of Community Organizing and Development.