Tactical Objectives for Resistance Action
Every resistance action needs a clear tactical objective that will advance the overall strategy. Clear reasons for action include:
Decisive Direct Action. To accomplish something directly. The tactical goal may be to disrupt, to take over territory, to blockade something, to destroy a target, or to act in self-defense.
Deterrence. A show of force; to discourage bad actions by those in power. To reduce the likelihood of repression. To demonstrate what might happen if change isn't brought about quickly.
Escalation. To raise the stakes. To maintain the forward trajectory of a campaign. To open up space for less radical action (e.g., Litton Industries bombing, the Overton Window, radical flanking).
Reinforcement and Punctuation. To maintain momentum in a campaign and sustain action over time. The Ruckus Society advises that direct action can be "a dramatic reminder that the problem has not gone away." Or to highlight a target and focus energy — if a campaign issue seems murky, Ruckus suggests taking "action to clearly define the evil or injustice, and the parties responsible."
Morale and Defiance. Sometimes when a group has suffered a setback and morale is low — or a group is tired — actions serve mostly personal and emotional rather than political reasons. As argued in Poor People's Movements, disruption and defiance are more important than any particular tactic.
Solidarity. To support the struggles of allies or comrades. To build relationships, networks, and movement strength.
Recruitment. To bring in new people. While some actions need to be risky, secret, or dependent on special skills, low-risk actions are a good opportunity to recruit by inviting newcomers to join in. People who share in one action are much more likely to take part in future actions or support the campaign in other ways, because they'll see themselves as part of something larger.
Training and Capacity Building. To help people practice a new method of action, or to become more comfortable with action. To help radicalize people. To strengthen a group or community. To build capacity by planning and carrying out actions more ambitious than in the past.
Communication. To send a message or to get attention. To make a point to those in power, to allies, or to people at large.
Experimentation and Creativity. To break out of a rut. To share new ideas, to inspire, and to provoke thought about different kinds of action outside the commonplace.
Provocation. To provoke a response from those in power, or to distract and harry them. Stan Goff suggests that resisters use "pinprick strikes of high frequency to disrupt the enemy decision-cycle." For Saul Alinsky, provoking a response was central: "The enemy properly goaded and guided in his reaction will be your major strength."
Intelligence Gathering. Like the Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI — scouting missions, or actions intended to probe for a response.
Resources and Logistics. To get supplies, or to aid in fundraising. To take over a building for use, such as a squat. For guerrillas, this has often meant "battlefield recovery" — frequent attacks on small enemy units to gather arms and equipment.