Understanding the rules for radicals.

• Author: Lukaszewski, James
• Position: Techniques in handling environmental problems - Leadership in Environmental Initiatives

When dealing with an environmental crisis or problem issue that has potential to stir up confrontational forces, "know thine enemy -- and its tactics" is good advice. In that spirit, James Lukaszewski, a corporate troubleshooter, passes along the following "12 Rules for Radicals."

These "rules" were developed by Saul Alinsky. As Lukaszewski writes in a recent issue of Executive Action, his firm's advisory letter to clients, "Saul Alinsky (1909-1967) is the father of modern American radicalism. He developed strategies and tactics that convert the enormous emotional energy of grassroots groups into effective anti-government and anti-corporate activism. His ideas are widely taught today as a set of model behaviors and used with an emotional commitment to victory -- no matter what." Most effective confrontation groups, Lukaszewski advises, stick closely to these tactics. (These rules are adapted from Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals, by Saul D. Alinsky, |C~ 1971, Vintage Books, New York.)

Lukaszewski is the founder of The Lukaszewski Group Inc., He works primarily with senior executives at companies facing product recalls, chemical spills, hazardous-substance exposure, labor problems, adverse legislation, and other serious internal and public problems.

1. Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have. Alinsky once won a major concession from the school board in Chicago by making Mayor Daley think Alinsky's neighborhood troops could tie up all pay toilets at O'Hare Airport. Daley conceded before Alinsky had to actually try it.

2. Never go outside of the expertise of your people. Feeling secure stiffens the backbone.

3. Whenever possible, go outside of the expertise of the enemy. This means that activists will always look for ways to increase your insecurity, to increase your anxiety in every way they can.

4. Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters.

5. Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. There is no defense. It is irrational. It's infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.

6. A good tactic is one your people enjoy. They'll keep...