Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out…
![“Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people who are working on [change] find that very difficult: They've been schooled into thinking you have to come up with the perfect plan in advance. It has become a bit technocratic.” quote by Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/d17/duncan-green-20105_activist_some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing_57391.jpg)
“Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people who are working on [change] find that very difficult: They've been schooled into thinking you have to come up with the perfect plan in advance. It has become a bit technocratic.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Activists often face tension between experimental, adaptive approaches and rigid, pre‑planned strategies, leading to technocratic inertia.
In simple terms: Balancing flexibility with planning.
Key Takeaway
Effective change needs both experimentation and strategic foresight.
Themes
activism
change management
innovation
bureaucracy
adaptability
Mood
determined
critical
hopeful
Type
observation
analysis
When to use this quote
- grassroots campaigns
- policy advocacy
- social movements
Key Concepts
experimentation
strategic planning
technocracy
Practical Applications
- design thinking workshops
- rapid prototyping of interventions
Questions to Reflect On
- How can activists integrate iterative testing without losing direction?
- What structures support adaptive learning in movements?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on planning can stifle creativity, but lack of structure may cause chaos.