Managing Activism: A Guide to Dealing With Activists and Pressure Groups

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Campaigners and pressure groups employ a wide range of aggressive tactics for which most organisations are completely unprepared. These tactics include anything from generating bad publicity and encouraging boycotts to seeking government and legislative intervention. All of these can cause severe damage to an organisation’s reputation, sales, profitability and share price. Despite this, few companies plan for activist attack – they do not know how to respond, and either fail to respond at all or do so ineffectively. Managing Activism examines the aims and motives of activist groups and provides a no-nonsense guide to handling activist pressure. Packed with numerous case studies, this guide demonstrates that an organisation can move from a combative to a more win–win situation with activists. Importantly, it also highlights steps that organisations can take to avoid becoming targets in the First place. Subjects covered include: The dynamics of activism; How not to deal with activists; Negotiating a way forward; Appointing responsibility for activism in-house; Getting to know ‘the enemy’; Relationship building, negotiation and conflict resolution; When activists will not negotiate; Communicating about risk; Improving community relations; Dealing with the media; Coping with emergencies; Planning and evaluation. Endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Managing Activism is essential reading for managers and PR practitioners in any organisation vulnerable to activism, be it a company, government, university, institution or charity. Table of Contents Introduction The dynamics of activism How not to deal with activists A way forward Appointing responsibility for activism in-house Get to know ‘the enemy’ Relationship building, negotiation and conflict resolution When activists will not negotiate Communicating about risk Community relations Media relations Emergencies Planning and evaluation