Coal Blooded Action Toolkit - Climate Access

Conducting a Power AnalysisBefore taking any action, the better prepared a unit is to handle adversary, the more likely they will be tosucceed in implementing their strategy. According to Strategic Concepts in Organizing and PolicyEducation (SCOPE), “a power analysis is used to help a community understand power and ways thatunequal power relationships relate to their community problems”. Furthermore, when conducting ananalysis, it should include the social, political, and economic components that structure the power dynamicsin a unit’s community. It will also include researching those with influence (city council, plant owners, zoningcommission, EPA, etc.) who can effect change within the community. The power analysis will help informwhich strategy should be taken by the group.Steps to Conducting a Power Analysis: The steps listed for conducting a power analysis are a basic outlineto get you started in the process. Power on any level can shape different processes so that is why all themajor players in the community should be appropriately researched. Each of the steps listed below, canhighlight those players that contribute to the power structure. Ultimately, gaining a sense of how powerimpacts the community will be helpful in “identifying, and understanding key players, issues, constituencies,and opposing agendas that affect our community” xviii . Once your community has taken the steps to conducta power analysis, it will ensure a well-informed approach to developing and implementing a strategy foraction.Midwest Academy has a strategy chart that will enable your unit to determine how to address your issue.One you have chosen an issue, you will work as a group to fill out the chart below. It will serve as a guide todeveloping a strategy. Be specific. List all the possibilities. There are five areas you will be focusing on:Goals, Organizational Considerations, Constituents, Allies/ Opponents, Targets and Tactics. Here is asample to the chart, the details are below.NAACP Coal Blooded Action Toolkit41 | P a g e