Understanding Power and Change

Duncan GreenBrandeis Proseminar

March 2012Lecture 3

Why it Matters

Rich source of new ideas and approaches in both advocacy and programming

Recognizing our own models of change and understanding those of others is helpful in building alliances and SMS

Improved agility and impact e.g. spotting opportunities quicker

Increasingly appreciated by funders

What is Power?

Power as force field Ways of looking at power

– Visibility– Spaces– Four powers

Visibility

Visible Invisible (norms and values – who decides

what is normal?) Hidden (setting agendas and priorities, who

chooses speakers and sends out invitations?)

Power and relations in international aid

Actors and processes

Norms and

beliefs

Spaces

Intra-elite Invited spaces Created spaces

Intra-elite, invited or created?

The four powers

Power Within Power With Power To Power Over

We Can: Power Within and Violence Against Women

We Can: Changing Beliefs, not Policies Launched 2004 3.2 million women and men in South Asia

have signed up as ‘change makers’ Viral influencing model, began in Uganda ‘To me change is the killing of fear’ ‘I tell people, I am not here to change you,

that is not in my power. But I can tell you how I have changed, and how it has changed my life’

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=6922

Power Analysis for Advocacy: Phase One

Define Change Goal What laws, policies, practices, relationships

need to change? What are obstacles to change? (e.g.

attitudes and beliefs, political groups, financial/commercial interests, lack of a feasible practical proposal)

What are the political opportunities for change (e.g. legislative timetables, elections, international negotiations & summits)

Power Analysis: Phase Two

Who are decision-makers and institutions that determine the change?

At what level are decisions made (international, national, state, politician or official)

Who has formal and informal power on a reform process?

Among these groups and individuals, which are – most easily influenced by OXFAM/partners? – The lost causes? – the ‘shifters' - the undecided or persuadable?

Who influences the people in this key group, who are often the principle target for our campaign?

Power Analysis is permanent

Power Analysis

Change Hypothesis

Implement and Evaluate

Select Change Strategies

Case Study: Revolution in Egypt

Watch the Al Jazeera video (20 minutes) and think about How Change Happens

– Context; Institutions; Agents; Events– What tactics and alliances did the April 6th

movement employ?– Discuss your thoughts in groups and report

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