Principles of Advocacy: Encouraging Involvement of Potential Opponents as Well as Allies
Learn how you can arrive at workable agreements with potential or actual opponents, as well as common actions you can take for mutual benefit.
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WHAT DO WE MEAN BY INVOLVING OPPONENTS?
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WHY SHOULD YOU INVOLVE OPPONENTS?
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WHEN SHOULD YOU INVOLVE OPPONENTS?
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HOW CAN YOU INVOLVE OPPONENTS?
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY INVOLVING OPPONENTS?
It seems obvious that you would want to involve your allies in your group's plans. However, you probably haven't considered involving your potential opponents as well. The idea may sound far-fetched, to say the least; it may even seem harmful to your group's goals.
But think again. Maybe your opponents can indeed help you, in unexpected ways. As you will find out, collaborating with people with different goals and values - at least partially different--can be beneficial to you, and also to them. Both of you can win.
WHY SHOULD YOU WANT TO INVOLVE AN OPPONENT?
Collaboration with people you might otherwise think of as opponents can give you and your group several advantages, such as:
- You might be removing, or neutralizing, a potentially harmful critic.
- You might gain insight into the workings of your opponent.
- You might gain access to a group that has been previously closed to you.
- You could acquire new resources to solve a common problem (to solve tough problems, the energy of many groups may be required).
- You can find common values and beliefs you didn't know were there.
- You can get to know your opponents as people.
- You can build a base of trust that might be helpful to you in the future.
- Involving your opponents can change the status quo and help you make progress.
ARE THEY REALLY MY OPPONENTS? SOME USEFUL FACTS ABOUT OPPOSITION
- Opponents come in varying degrees. Not everyone who might oppose you will defend his position until his dying breath. Those who are slightly or mildly opposed are potential targets for change. And some people may oppose you because they don't understand your issue, or simply out of habit--they're just not used to agreeing with you! When you talk with them further, you might find they are not your opponents at all.
- Opposition depends upon the issue. Someone may be opposed to you on issue A; but that doesn't mean they will be opposed on issue B. On issue B, they could be your strongest ally. So be careful about making generalizations.
- Opposition is not forever. Your opponents' position may change over time. Your position may change. This means that keeping polite (if not necessarily friendly) relations with your opponents is a good idea more often than not. You never know when it might pay off.
Here's a basic point to keep in mind: Someone who disagrees with you is not necessarily an opponent!
WHEN SHOULD YOU INVOLVE OPPONENTS?
THREE GOOD INDICATORS ARE:
- When the lines of communication are still relatively open - and especially when you believe your opponent is willing to talk with you
- When you see common values and opportunities - even if your opponent doesn't see them yet
- When, from your opponent's point of view, the cost of getting involved with you is not too great
WHEN NOT TO INVOLVE OPPONENTS: SOME RED FLAGS
But not every situation calls for collaboration. Sometimes involving your opponents would be very difficult, if not also damaging to your efforts. For example, when:
- There is a history of distrust, or actual deception, between you and your opponent
- Your respective positions on this particular issue are strongly held, deeply entrenched, and completely opposed to each other
- Your opponents are unwilling to talk with you
- The time and energy costs in collaborating with your opponent on this issue would be just too great
On some issues, it's certainly possible to "agree to disagree" in a respectful way. Remember, though: this doesn't mean you will be disagreeing the next time around.
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