How to divide and conquer activists

    In a fascinating new piece that looks at how corporations use claims of “social responsibility” to fend off activists and government regulation, Corporate Crime Reporter editor Russell Mokhiber mentions a strategy put forward by Mongoven, Biscoe and Duchin (MBD), a PR company that specializes in providing intel on activists to corporate clients, to divide and conquer activist groups.

    MBD believes that activists fall into four distinct categories: radicals, opportunists, idealists, and realists. MBD outlines a three-step strategy: isolate the radicals, cultivate the idealists and educate them into becoming realists, then co-opt the realists into agreeing with industry.

    I have never heard of this strategy (which is fleshed out in a little more depth here), or the company, but find both very interesting. What do you know about this group, and what do you think of their strategy? Have you seen any of these approaches used against your work or activist groups that you’re involved in? In the meantime, I will see if I can track down an actual copy of this strategy and post it.



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