All movements have social context, and the better the estimate of the situation, the better the strategy and tactics. Analyzing social settings, however, requires methodical research. What we think we know by reading newspapers, watching TV, or joining in online discussions, may turn out to be inaccurate or insufficient.
John Lofland, Professor of Sociology Emeritus at UC Davis, has written several useful books on how to analyze social settings. Combined with current community-based research and open source data, these analytical tools enable organizers and activists to be more intelligent, more effective, and more fulfilled.
Once they have a better handle on the situation, they can better make sense of information from sources they previously overlooked or ignored.
