Alinsky’s Approach to the Labor Movement and the Church and his “Community Organizing”

Daehee Choi 

Saul Alinsky is known for conceptualizing and practicing “community organizing” as a theory of social change within American society. His goal was not to destroy the existing social system, but to influence it in ways that could significantly impact the lives of marginalized people. Rather than aligning with socialist labor activists, Alinsky chose the church as the primary ally for implementing community organizing. First, this study highlights the non-violent, non-ideological, and practical nature of Alinsky’s approach by analyzing his relationship with labor unions and socialism. Alinsky argued that solutions to societal problems should not come from the top down, but from the bottom up, through the direct participation of citizens. This emphasis on grassroots involvement is closely aligned with the subsidiarity principle found in Catholic social doctrine. Second, the study examines how Alinsky sought to empower “those who don’t have it” by advocating for the decentralization of power. In contrast to the social-welfare approach, which views disadvantaged groups as passive victims in need of care and aid, Alinsky’s community organizing treats these groups as active subjects capable of improving their own conditions. This distinction represents a key difference in Alinsky’s approach to social change.

Saul D. Alinsky, Community Organizing, Principle of Subsidiarity, Welfare Colonialism, Socialist Labor Movement

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