Affinity group
Encyclopedia : A : AF : AFF : Affinity group
An affinity group is a small group of activists (usually from 3-20) who work together on direct action.
Affinity groups are organized in a non-hierarchical manner, usually using consensus decision making, and are often made up of trusted friends or other like-minded people. They provide a method of organization that is responsive, flexible and decentralized.
Affinity groups can be based on a common ideology (eg. anarchism), a shared concern for a given issue (eg. anti-nuclear) or a common activity, role or skill (eg. street medics). Affinity groups may have either open or closed membership, although the latter is far more common.
History
The use of affinity groups dates back to 19th century Spain, where they were called tertulias or grupos de afinidad by Spanish anarchists[link]. They became popular again in the 1970s in the anti-nuclear movement in the United States and Europe. The 30,000 person occupation and blockade of the Ruhr nuclear power station in Germany in 1969 was organized on the affinity group model [link] [link]. Today, the tool is used by many different activists: animal rights, environmental, anti-war, and anti-globalization, to name some examples.
Organization
External
By definition, affinity groups are autonomous. Co-ordinated effort and co-operation amongst several affinity groups, however, is often achieved by using a loose form of confederation.
- Cluster: The cluster is the basic unit of organization amongst affinity groups. Clusters are comprised of several affinity groups and are organized in a non-hierarchical manner. Clusters can be permanent, but are more often ad hoc groupings organized for one specific task or action. They can be organized around a shared goal (eg. blockading a particular road), a common ideology (eg. quakers) or a place of origin[link][link].
- Spokescouncil: The spokescouncil is an aggregate of clusters and affinity groups. Each affinity group or cluster nominates one representative (often called a "spoke") to participate in the council. Spokescouncils are most often temporary bodies, committed to accomplishing one task or event.[link][link]
Internal
Affinity groups tend to be loosely organized, however there are some formal roles or positions that commonly occur. A given affinity group may have all, some or none of these positions. They may be permanent or temporary and the group may opt to take turns in these roles, or assign one role to one person.
- Spoke: The individual charged with representing the affinity group at a spokescouncil or cluster meeting. Occasionally, the spoke will be granted a more general ambassadorial role by the affinity group.
- Facilitator: A person or people who perform facilitation duties in consensus process of the group and also, to varying degrees, act as arbiter of internal conflicts.
- Media contact: An individual who represents the group to the media. Often this individual is the same person as the Spoke.
- Vibe watch: A person or people charged with monitoring the mood and feeling of the group. In some affinity groups, the vibe watch is also charged with keeping the facilitator from using his or her role to favor any position or proposal.
- Snap-decision facilitator: Also called "quick decision facilitator", this is a person charged with making decisions for the group in time-constrained or high-pressure situations. The position is rare and is almost always temporary.
Quotes
- Starhawk: "An affinity group is a group of people who have an affinity for each other, know each others strengths and weaknesses, support each other, and do (or intend to do ) political/campaign work together."[link]
- Luke Hauser: "Affinity groups serve as a source of support and solidarity for their members. Feelings of being isolated or alienated from the movement, or the crowd, or the world in general can be alleviated through the love and trust which develops when an affinity group works, plays, and relates together over a period of time. By generating familiarty and trust, the AG structure reduces the possibility of infiltration by outside provocateurs." [link]
- Noam Chomsky: "If you assume correctly that whatever group you are in is being penetrated by the FBI, when something serious is happening, you don’t do it in a meeting. You do it with some people you know and trust, an affinity group and then it doesn’t get penetrated. That’s one of the reasons why the FBI has never been able to figure out what’s going on in any of the popular movements." [link]
External links
- [Affinity Groups, A CrimethInc.net Letterbomb]
- Hauser, Luke (2003) Direct Action: An Historical Novel
- [Directaction.org] - hundreds of AG actions, photos, and resources
- [Ruckus]
- [The Boston Direct Action Project]
- [Generic Organizational Structure Outline] for affinity groups
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