Bookmark and Share

Table of Contents >
   Part I. Organizing for Effective Advocacy
(Chapters 3... >
      Chapter 31. Conducting Advocacy Research >
         Section 4. Studying the Opposition >
             Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >

Studying the Opposition

  

Tools & Checklists

 Contributed by Eric Wadud and Prue Breitrose Edited by Bill Berkowitz and Kate Nagy

Tools
Checklist

Tools

Tool 1: Investigation Worksheet

 

In order to...

We need

Where to look?

When?





















Return to top

Checklist

 

Here you will find a checklist summarizing the main points of the section.


Studying your opponents:

___Gives you up-to-date knowledge of the opponent's positions on the issue.

___Tells you why the opponent is taking those positions.

___Tells you what strategies and tactics the opponent has used in the past.


Knowledge about opponents is useful to:

___Identify potential problems earlier on, and sort them out before they become bigger problems.

___Help you find ways to negotiate.

___Help you develop successful strategies and tactics.


With regard to the timing of research:

___Studying the opponent should be an ongoing process.

___Your opponents’ position may change over time; your response may need to change as well.


Studying can be either informal or formal. Informal methods may include:

___Keeping your eyes and ears open.

___Looking at your opponent's previous activities and campaigns.

___Reading their in-house publications and annual reports.

___Talking to organizations and individuals who have dealt with your opponents in the past.


Studying individuals may involve:

___Finding out where they live and work.

___Finding out how and where they manage financial transactions.

___Identifying their advisors.


Studying agencies, companies or organizations may involve:

___Finding out their past records and tactics.

___Finding out about their resources, strengths, and weaknesses.

___Identifying their principle decision makers.

___Finding out how much power they have, and why they are opposing you.


A formal, tactical investigation may be necessary:

___If the opponent is powerful.

___If the opponent may be willing to act forcefully.


A formal investigation may involve the following steps:

___Develop an investigation plan.

___Gather the information.

___Think like your opponent .

___Use the information.


Information can be gathered:

___Through informants with an interest in the issue.

___Through "freedom of information" laws.

___Through published sources of information.


Among published sources of information are:

___Business and trade publications

___Clipping files

___Reference works

___Government files on businesses

___Voting records

___Court records


Gathering information about an opponent may involve some ethically questionable tactics. Groups should balance the benefits of these tactics against:

___Their own sense of what is ethically permissible.

___The risk of getting caught.

___The risk that the opponent would also adopt hardball tactics.


Thinking like the opponent will help a group:

___Predict what that opponent will do next.

___Predict how the opponent would react to specific tactics.


Studying their opponent can help advocacy groups:

___Plan actions that will be most effective.

___Publicize the opponent's weaknesses.

___Perhaps act as whistle-blower, and seek legal redress.

 

Return to top