Our reading for this topic is an extremely insightful analysis of the election to Seattle City Council of Socialist Alternative candidate Kshama Sawant. By all accounts, Sawant has been an excellent elected official. SA has been able to work constructively with Democrats where they agree, as well as move ideas leftward. SA has also been able to avoid being coopted by Democrats, staying independent and true to their ideals.

Crucially, this election was only built upon a much larger, well-organized base. Sawant’s election is the expression of a larger movement, rather than its creation or inspiration.

What can we learn about organizing from this and other examples?

 

Reading:

Bad Steel: The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Socialist Alternative Model of Movement Building