In a year that has seen racist demagogue Donald Trump capture the GOP presidential nomination and democratic socialist Bernie Sanders make a serious bid for the Democratic nod, social justice activists have been discussing electoral engagement and strategy with unprecedented intensity.
Now tens of thousands of people beyond the activist world will be looking to hold similar conversations. What accounts for Trump's rise? With Wall Street-friendly Hillary Clinton as his Democratic opponent, is there a way to defeat Trump that will simultaneously strengthen movements for justice, equality and peace? Can the energy unleashed by the Bernie Sanders campaign and movements like Black Lives Matter be translated into a durable progressive force that can fight inside and outside electoral politics?
As one contribution to engaging these questions, we have prepared a three-part curriculum covering different aspects of the 2016 election and its political, economic and demographic context. Each is designed to facilitate a two-hour discussion in an organization or an informal group. Depending on time and interest, people could decide to use any one of the modules or all three. They can also be read as pictorial essays.
Each comes with a Facilitator's Guide, and there is a Supplementary Resource Guide listing materials for anyone who wants to go deeper into one or another area. The three modules are:
*Organizing on Shifting Terrain (A Changing Electorate and Rising Economic Inequality)
*The Right, the Far Right, and the Rise of Donald Trump
*The U.S. Electoral System and Progressive Electoral Strategy
These materials are available free to any group or individual who wants to use them. They can be downloaded at http://organizingupgrade.com/index.php/strategylabs/2016-elections/item/1056-election-curriculum
If you have any questions, or want to offer feedback, please contact us at electioncurriculum@earthlink.net.
For peace and justice,
Linda Burnham
Max Elbaum
Harmony Goldberg
Jason Negron-Gonzales
Tarso Ramos
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