Taking political advantage from social activism

MRS FASTBUCKS
The following process explains how political parties use social, intellectual and research intelligence from community groups or from activists/whistleblowers to bolster their own political capital and campaign tactics:

When an activist/whistleblower contacts a politician’s office to establish a dialogue or get help, there are two competing processes going on.

For the activist/whistleblower, a politician’s office is there to provide a ‘service to the public’, to exchange information, to have open discussion, and potentially receive help and support from within the parliamentary process. Whilst for the politician (or their staff), such interface opportunities is about intelligence gathering.

The way that the community group or activist/whistleblower is handled by the politician ultimately determines whether the interchange is a beneficial pursuit or merely an exercise in manufacturing political capital for the party concerned.

Understanding how party-political processes work can help community organisations and activists/whistleblowers to more effectively liaise with politicians and further their goals – independent of any overt or covert appropriation by political parties or individual politicians.

From numerous discussions over the years local activists and whistleblowers involved in community campaigns have prepared a mock up of the standard cascade of events that transpires. It takes the politician’s perspective, and it applies to all political parties:

• On first contact with an activist/whistleblower, listen attentively, be sympathetic and sound appreciative and willing to give support.

• Establish whether any information/intelligence the person/group has could be used immediately or for upcoming publicity campaigns.

• Work out if the activist/community group is just doing the rounds of the politicians and whether you are their first (or last) stop – be alert for signs of manipulation or ‘ambush’.

• Determine whether they are ‘really’ one of us.

• If they are one of us arrange to meet them or other spokespersons for their group if they have one.

• Do not meet with them if they are known to be affiliated with any other political party and be prepared to use this affiliation to discredit them as needed.

• If they are NOT one of us, take what they have and advise them that someone will be in contact.

• Determine who else they have shared their information with; try to advise them to the contrary.

• Assess the rigor of their research efforts -based on the veracity of the researchers, their track record and authenticity of any documentation.

• Establish ‘close’ but informal relations with the intellectual capital holders and appropriate their knowledge/intelligence and strategies as required.

• Do whatever it takes to get vital information/research/leaks in hard copy.

• If the activist/community group wants you to put in an FOI request, get them to do the research assessment and provide the summary of key gleanings.

• Ensure that any important new revelations from their research are released to you before they go public; this ensures that you are prepared in anticipation of a Media contact or you know when to create your own publicity on the issue.

• Politicians and party machines don’t like leaving any paper, electronic or voice mail trail of interaction with activist communities – it may come back to bite them! They need you to initiate and maintain the contact with them and of course new information flow.

• As soon as you get critical intelligence from a person/group – if you can get away with it – avoid consulting with the sources and take advantage of it at a place and time of your choosing. Of course there will be an implicit requirement that the person/group realizes that providing such strategic material to a political process implies ‘proprietary rights’ and the need for confidentiality & discretion on their part.

• Activists and community groups always expect you to get back to them with important updates – let them do the chasing – you and your office support personnel don’t have time for this.

• If the activist/community group asks you to support legislation you don’t agree with – don’t let them know your position – when you’ve voted against it and gained any publicity they will likely miss any media opportunity to promote their proposal or attack you for rejecting it.

• Don’t advise the activist/community group when their issues will be debated in Parliament – unless they support your position.

• Offer to raise questions in Parliament but redraft and select those questions that are acceptable to you or the party; you may loose credit later.

• Informants can be unpredictable – keep them talking with you so as not to loose them to another political party

• Impress on the activist/community group how political change, in reality, can only happen through the parliamentary process – and that they need to keep you informed of their plans – especially regards to media. [Unmanaged ‘people power’ was put to bed long ago!]

• If the momentum is running well, try to arrange to speak at one of their public events or at least be seen attending it.

• If possible organise with any Party members in the community group to write letters to the papers praising the Party’s support or attacking your opponents.

• Bring people in from interstate through your own networks/party to speak at community events or better still a party-initiated event to further media opportunities and association of the Party with the issue. Take full ownership for the key strategies and information – example of democracy in action.

• Put out media releases before (preferably) or after a group’s event to piggy back on any media interest in their issue.

• If a person/group you’ve ‘helped’ has a ‘win’, hold a media conference/celebration to demonstrate your Party’s positioning and let the public know that this win couldn’t have happened without the work of your Party.

• If an activist/community group is not successful in their public awareness efforts – say and do nothing – it’s probably because they didn’t listen to your strategic advice!

• If an activist/community group exposes the party for using any of the above methods – cease all contact, discredit them at any opportunity with media or other influential individuals and make sure the party rank & file know who they are and subtly ensure that they realise their mistakes.