"Saul D. Alinsky:
An Applied Urban Symbolic Interactionist"
By: Donald C. Reitzes and Dietrich C. Reitzes

George Herbert Mead founded the basis of what is now known as the symbolic interactionism theory. The original theory lacked in the area of the urban aspect of symbolic interactionism. This article describes how symbolic interactionist Robert E. Park had an influence on Alinsky's work, Alinsky's methods used, and some of the implications of the Symbolic Interactionism and community development.

Robert E. Park was one of the most influential symbolic interactionists to Saul Alinsky's work. Alinsky was a student of Park during the late 1920s while an undergraduate in college. The essential factor for Alinsky was the Park-inspired understanding of structure. Alinsky later borrowed several of Park's urban sociology concepts and incorporated them into his own approach to community organization.

The recognition that communities are not complete local social systems but integrated into larger structures and organizations (p.10). Alinsky strived to make local residents aware of the linkage between their community and larger units of social structure.

Understanding of the complex character of local community social structure (p. 10). Alinsky concluded that the success of his new community organizations would depend on the citizens' ability to overcome the hostilities that may arise between heterogeneous segments.

Proposition that in addition to becoming members of local communities, urbanites are also linked through occupational and interdependence to other sets of people and participate in the life of the city (p.10). Alinsky decided that communities are neither the only nor necessarily the most important unit of social participation and identification.

Alinsky concluded with the basic interactionist principle of reciprocity between individual and society: "individuals are influenced by urban social and ecological structure yet are capable of actively and intentionally modifying and changing their environment (p.12)." Alinsky stands by his belief that individuals who act together on the local level can create a working participatory democracy.

Alinsky did not lack the capacity to manipulate symbols and use them to his advantage in community organization situations. He took the approach of generating interest in community organizations and used the symbolic process to redefine individual troubles into shared social problems. Alinsky would use his wonderful powers of persuasion and manipulation to promote a change in communities. For example, The Woodlawn Organization (TWO) began to subdivide single-family residences into multiple unit apartments and rent them out at the highest possible price and making the least possible amount of maintenance. This practice was not illegal, just unfair. So Alinsky decided that he would start a campaign against the privately owned TWO, he spread rumors and started to open the public's eyes to see what the slumlords are doing to residents of the community. He used symbols to manipulate the situation and gain community support.

Alinsky continued to manipulate symbols to try to generate support and participation of community members. He managed to contribute to the new direction for urban sociology. He was able to achieve success by beginning the construction of a positive set of community symbols and to increase sentimental attachment to the community. Alinsky was also able to increase local influences with external organizations and institutions that affect the quality of community life.

The work of Saul D. Alinsky allowed for community growth and promoted participation. His work will increase the development of symbolic interactionism with an emphasis on urban research and life. Great symbolic interactionists will continue to influence young undergraduates and Alinsky was added to the list through his applications and examples.

In my eyes, Saul Alinsky helped make the theory well rounded in every aspect. He gained respect from other theorists and also from the general public. While searching for links, I came across many essays and articles written about Saul Alinsky by community members and the average Joe, if you will. Saul Alinsky is becoming a popular name in bigger urban communities and could very well become a household names in homes that encourage community involvement.

Citations

Donald Reitzes, Dietrich Reitzes, "Saul D. Alinsky: An Applied Urban Symbolic Interactionist," Symbolic Interaction, Vol. 15, 1992, pp. 1-24



A Few Links

Click here to read an article recalling the importance of Alinsky's ideas twenty-five years after his death.

Click to read a few of Saul Alinsky's creative quotes.

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The Theory Interactional View is included in the grouping of Co-Construction Theories with Symbolic Interactionism. Mike Pistone researched the related theory and offered a few of his thoughts of the article.

This page last updated on 02-23-00 by Miranda Valentine