Prior to an action it is advised to form an affinity group for when violence will be used, panic arises or you have the feeling you are losing control of the situation. 

This guide is also available in PDF format (in Dutch).

Open in PDF

Introduction

During large actions with many people around you, you can feel very lost if you're not organized. You might feel like you've lost control over what's happening around you. Especially if violence is used against your group, or there's a threat of it, and panic quickly sets in. How can you make quick decisions with dozens or even hundreds of people? And who knows what will happen to you if something happens to you?

Why affinity groups? An affinity group consists of a small number of people (4–8) who operate within a larger crowd or movement. Having a small, manageable group around you increases your: >> Sense of trust >> Safety >> Possibility for task delegation >> Ability to make quick decisions >> Ability to collaborate with other affinity groups within the larger crowd How to form affinity groups? Affinity groups are best formed with people who share certain principles, which helps to increase mutual trust. These could include political beliefs, the level of risk you are willing to take during the action, or a shared position in society. Action Pairs Within your affinity group, form action pairs that stay together throughout the action, look out for each other, and take care of one another. This way, you're never alone and there's always someone for you. It’s helpful to choose someone you click with. Groups of 4, 6, or 8 These pairs form groups of an even number. From experience, groups of 4, 6, or 8 work best. When you have a name for your affinity group, it becomes easier to collaborate with other groups and make decisions.

What do affinity groups do? Taking care of each other Affinity groups primarily take care of each other. When each group knows that everyone is accounted for, no one gets lost in the chaos. Carrying out tasks As an affinity group, it’s easier to take on a specific task or role within the action. This way, you can collaborate with other affinity groups. Making decisions Within your affinity group, you can make quick decisions. And when there’s more time, affinity groups can send a representative to a council of delegates to make decisions together with hundreds of people.

Finally

Interested in attending a training? Contact us here.

This guide is part of the ‘Toolbox for Movements’. This toolbox contains more short digital guides, offering fundamental knowledge about strategy, movement building, campaigning, and organizing.

We also love to learn. So, if you have any ideas for improving or adding to this guide based on your experiences, let us know!

Back to Toolbox Action Skills