Social Change: Settlement Houses and Saul Alinsky, 1939-1965

Both Saul Alinsky and the settlement houses worked with the neighborhood as a unit in achieving social change. In many ways, Alinsky's methods were opposite those of the settlements. Alinsky emphasized conflict, whereas the settlements traditionally stressed consensus across social class lines. In four cases, Alinsky groups came into contact with individual settlements. While each settlement reacted differently, in no one case could the Alinsky/settlement interaction be regarded as a success by both sides. Nevertheless, both the settlements and the Alinsky-sponsored groups made significant and worthwhile contributions toward achieving social change.