How can you effectively use power mapping to address systemic inequality and injustice?

2 Why is power mapping important?

Power mapping is important because it can help you understand the root causes and structures of inequality and injustice, and how they are maintained and challenged by various forces. It can also help you identify the opportunities and challenges for your campaign or movement, and how to leverage your resources and assets to create change. Power mapping can also help you communicate your message and vision to different audiences, and mobilize and empower your community.

3 How to do power mapping?

Power mapping can be done in various ways, depending on your purpose, scope, and resources. Nonetheless, there are some common steps to create a power map. To start, you need to define your goal and issue, and identify the key actors. You should then assess the level of power and interest of each actor according to their influence and support. In addition, you need to map the relationships and dynamics among the actors with symbols, colors, shapes, or lines. After that, analyze the gaps and opportunities for your campaign or movement. Lastly, plan your strategies and tactics to achieve your goal and issue. This includes identifying primary and secondary targets to persuade or pressure, as well as influencers and gatekeepers to engage or bypass. Furthermore, you should consider ways to mobilize and empower your community, as well as build coalitions with other actors.

4 How to use power mapping in different contexts and scenarios?

Power mapping can be used in various contexts and scenarios, such as policy advocacy, community organizing, social movements, and personal and professional development. It can help identify and influence policy makers and stakeholders who can affect your issue or cause, mobilize community members and groups who can support your issue or cause, challenge systemic and structural sources of inequality and injustice, and enhance personal and professional power and influence. Additionally, it can be used to plan strategies and tactics for lobbying, advocacy, organizing, mobilizing, movement building, resistance, career advancement, and leadership.

5 What are some examples of power mapping?

Power mapping can be utilized to address a range of issues and causes, such as environmental justice, racial justice, and gender justice. For instance, when considering environmental justice, power mapping can help identify the actors who have the power to cause or prevent environmental harm, such as corporations or governments, as well as those who have the power to demand or support environmental justice, like activists or NGOs. Similarly, when examining racial justice, power mapping can be used to recognize the actors who have the power to perpetuate or dismantle racism, such as institutions or laws, and those who have the power to resist or transform racism, like movements or allies. Lastly, when addressing gender justice, power mapping can help identify the actors who have the power to enforce or challenge gender norms, such as religion or family, and those who have the power to express or advocate gender diversity, like feminists or LGBTQ+.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?