Organizing the People

A presentation by the People’s University as a part of its Summer Organizer School

People’s University

Organizer School

People’s University

Organizer School

From Last Time…

The Necessity of Organization

Working-Class Democracy

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

• Understand the meaning of the term organization
• Understand the nature of the non-profit, social work as revolutionary strategy model of organizing
• Understand the relationship between the concepts democracy and centralism

March 30, 2025

People’s University

People’s University

Organizer School

From Last Time…

Put on Your Classes Glasses

People’s University

Organizer School

Group Activity

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Class Analysis

May 19, 2025

Organizer School

People’s University

When we say class analysis, we mean an analysis that attempts to:

1. identify the different classes and class forces that are operating in a given social formation;
2. elaborate that formation's class structure (i.e., the size, strength and hierarchy of the classes) and the roles of the various classes in that formation;
3. determine the material interests of the various classes;
4. assess the arenas and forms, the intensity and sharpness, the stage and progress of the struggle between the classes;
5. assess the class character of their ideas and activity outside of the social production process as well as their self-consciousness as a class.

Analysis

Class

Ideology

Politics

Organization

An ideology is a system of ideas that is meant to be internally consistent.

A politic is a set of demands.

An organization is a group of people that are united in their goal and divided in their tasks.

Defeat ≠ Failure

The necessity of summation in evaluating our tactics and being flexible with respect to their evolution (and to a lesser extent our strategy).

Tactics

Organization

tasks

Ideology

ideas

Politics

demands

Method

~Aspects of Social Movements~

Strategy

Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie

Correct vs. Incorrect

Advanced vs. Backward

People’s University

May 19, 2025

Organizer School

The Necessity of Organization

What Organization Is!

“An organization is a system that groups together of people to stand and act as one effective force. It binds members and parts to move as one in advancing one unified goal. It is through an organization and organized action that a unity based in one spirit and zeal can have a concrete form of expression.

As a system an organization has strong principles that guide its members on how to think and act. It has its own set of rules and objectives that is mirrored by its system of leadership with different levels of responsibility. These are necessary elements that make it certain the organization marches to one drumbeat and cadence in achieving its goal.”

– the Communist Party of the Philippines, ARAK

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Philosophy PHIL 0002

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~“We’re not outnumbered,~

~we’re out organized”~

People

Organizations

particular

general

The (non-linear) Social Movement Process

Educate

Agitate

Organize

Mobilize

“People always have been the foolish victims of deception and self-deception in politics, and they always will be until they have learnt to seek out the interests of some class or other behind all moral, religious, political and social phrases, declarations and promises. Champions of reforms and improvements will always be fooled by the defenders of the old order until they realise that every old institution, how ever barbarous and rotten it may appear to be, is kept going by the forces of certain ruling classes. …

V.I. Lenin, The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism

“... And there is only one way of smashing the resistance of those classes, and that is to find, in the very society which surrounds us, the forces which can—and, owing to their social position, must—constitute the power capable of sweeping away the old and creating the new, and to enlighten and organise those forces for the struggle.

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“Marx’s philosophical materialism alone has shown the proletariat the way out of the spiritual slavery in which all oppressed classes have hitherto languished. Marx’s economic theory alone has explained the true position of the proletariat in the general system of capitalism.”

V.I. Lenin, The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism

What about the rest of the masses?

What Kind of Organization Do We Need?

“By means of manipulation, the dominant elites try to conform the masses to their objectives. And the greater the political immaturity [lack of consciousness] of these people (rural or urban) the more easily the latter can be manipulated by those who do not wish to lose their power. … Through manipulation, the dominant elites can lead the people into an unauthentic type of "organization," and can thus avoid the threatening alternative: the true organization of the emerged and emerging people. … Manipulation … attempts to anesthetize the people so they will not think … welfare programs as instruments of manipulation ultimately serve the end of conquest. They act as an anesthetic, distracting the oppressed from the true causes of their problems and from the concrete solution of these problems.”

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Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

“By means of manipulation, the dominant elites try to conform the masses to their objectives. And the greater the political immaturity [lack of consciousness] of these people (rural or urban) the more easily the latter can be manipulated by those who do not wish to lose their power. … Through manipulation, the dominant elites can lead the people into an unauthentic type of "organization," and can thus avoid the threatening alternative: the true organization of the emerged and emerging people. … Manipulation … attempts to anesthetize the people so they will not think … welfare programs as instruments of manipulation ultimately serve the end of conquest. They act as an anesthetic, distracting the oppressed from the true causes of their problems and from the concrete solution of these problems.”

Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed

The Social Work Model

People’s University

May 19, 2025

Organizer School

Let’s Discuss “Malcolm X Didn’t Dish out Free Bean Pies”

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1. What are the differences in political content, character, and overall seriousness in the service programs of the Black Panthers and Young Lords from today’s “mutual aid” programs?
2. What is the nonprofit activist view of knowing social change and viewing the masses? How does that infect those carrying out the charity and social work as politics approach?
3. How was it that the administration of Richard Nixon was able to expand the reach of federally funded social programs? Why was that in the interest of the whole bourgeoisie at that time? Why should that history give pause to those who believe in the goal of meeting the needs of the masses short of proletarian revolution?

Activity

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Discussion

Bobby Seale & Huey Newton

People’s University

May 19, 2025

Organizer School

The Social Work Model

People’s University

May 19, 2025

Organizer School

Let’s Discuss “Malcolm X Didn’t Dish out Free Bean Pies”

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1. Why was the principal political activity of the Black Panther Party producing and distributing a newspaper? What forms currently exist, or could be created, for the agitation about and exposure of the system’s crimes to to call people to political action?
2. What are the ways in which the masses can be mobilized in collective struggle for their immediate survival needs within your region and social formation? Struggles against deportation or eviction? Mass campaigns against opioids that include finding forms of treatment? How could that be tied to exposure of the system and preparing the masses to make revolution?

Activity

​

Discussion

Bobby Seale & Huey Newton

Tactics

Organization

tasks

Ideology

ideas

Politics

demands

Method

~Aspects of Social Movements~

Strategy

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Organizer School

Working-Class Democracy

What Organization Is!

“An organization is a system that groups together of people to stand and act as one effective force. It binds members and parts to move as one in advancing one unified goal. It is through an organization and organized action that a unity based in one spirit and zeal can have a concrete form of expression.

As a system an organization has strong principles that guide its members on how to think and act. It has its own set of rules and objectives that is mirrored by its system of leadership with different levels of responsibility. These are necessary elements that make it certain the organization marches to one drumbeat and cadence in achieving its goal.”

– the Communist Party of the Philippines, ARAK

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Philosophy PHIL 0002

​

​

~“We’re not outnumbered,~

~we’re out organized”~

What Organization Is!

“An organization is a system that groups together of people to stand and act as one effective force. It binds members and parts to move as one in advancing one unified goal. It is through an organization and organized action that a unity based in one spirit and zeal can have a concrete form of expression.

As a system an organization has strong principles that guide its members on how to think and act. It has its own set of rules and objectives that is mirrored by its system of leadership with different levels of responsibility. These are necessary elements that make it certain the organization marches to one drumbeat and cadence in achieving its goal.”

– the Communist Party of the Philippines, ARAK

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Philosophy PHIL 0002

​

​

~“We’re not outnumbered,~

~we’re out organized”~

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Philosophy PHIL 0002

People

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Philosophy PHIL 0002

Non-Members

Organization

Members

Org #1

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Non-Members

Organization

Members

Org #2

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Non-Members

Organization

Members

Org #3

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Non-Members

Organization

Members

Org #4

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Non-Members

Organization

Members

Org #5

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Non-Members

Organization

Members

Org #6

Organizational Decision-Making!

Democracy & Centralism

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Democracy guided by centralized leadership.

The individual interest and action is subordinate, and agrees to, the overall interests and goals of the organization. The decision of the organization is tightly followed and everybody is free in working towards the interests and goals of the organization.

Centralism based on democracy.

All must give emphasis to the general interest of the organization. An effective organization draws its strength from the active participation of all its members and parts. The decisions held inside the organization are collectively discussed based on the overall interest of the group.

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Leaders

Organization

Members

Leadership

Membership

March 30, 2025

People’s University

Leaders

Organization

Members

Leadership

Membership

*Organization

How Do We Proceed?

People’s University

Organizer School