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In what countries has community organizing been most effective in creating change?

Myranda Padson

Well, I'm not an expert but I've read and heard about community organizing in different countries, and it seems like the effectiveness of this practice varies depending on the cultural and social context.

From what I know, community organizing has had significant impact in some countries in Latin America, like Brazil and Bolivia. In Brazil, for example, the Landless Workers' Movement (MST) has been organizing peasants and rural workers to fight for their rights and access to land since the 1980s. Through collective action and protests, they have managed to pressure the government and companies to distribute land and support agrarian reform. The MST's model has inspired similar movements in other Latin American countries, like the Zapatistas in Mexico.

In Bolivia, the indigenous movements have been a crucial force of change, particularly since the election of Evo Morales as the first indigenous president in 2006. By mobilizing the indigenous communities and organizing protests, they have challenged the dominant power structures and demanded recognition and equality. The promotion of the concept of “Buen Vivir” or “Living Well” has been a fundamental pillar of these movements and has translated into concrete policies such as the nationalization of natural resources and the adoption of a new constitution that recognizes indigenous rights.

Outside of Latin America, community organizing has also proved successful in some countries in Africa, such as South Africa. The anti-apartheid movement of the 20th century, led by figures like Nelson Mandela, was built upon networks of community organizers who worked to mobilize diverse groups of people, including workers, students, and religious leaders. Through strikes, boycotts, and civil disobedience, they managed to achieve the end of legal segregation and the establishment of a multiracial democracy. More recently, the organizing of the shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo has been instrumental in creating spaces of resistance and alternative politics in the midst of poverty and marginalization.

There are also examples of community organizing in the United States and Europe, although these are often contextualized within a different political and social landscape. In the US, for example, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s relied on community organizing tactics to challenge racial discrimination and segregation. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Ella Baker worked to mobilize local communities and build broad coalitions that could apply pressure on government and corporate power. In Europe, there have been different models of community organizing that often involve collaboration between civil society organizations, trade unions, and political parties. The case of the Spanish "indignados" movement in 2011, which brought together diverse groups of people to protest the economic crisis and the political establishment, is one such example.

Overall, I think that community organizing can be effective in creating change in different parts of the world, but the success also depends on various factors, such as the level of repression, the availability of resources, and the strength of social movements. Community organizing is not a panacea, but it can offer a way for marginalized groups to assert their rights and voice their demands, and to build collective power that can challenge entrenched interests.