Editing Affinity group

{{Short description|Social grouping formed around a shared interest or goal}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=May 2025}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=May 2025}}
}}
{{About|the organizational model|the company|Affinity Group Inc.}}
[[Image:Affinity group collateral damage.jpg|thumb|250px|right|An affinity group of anti-war protesters]]

An '''affinity group''' is a group formed around a shared interest or common goal, to which individuals formally or informally belong.  Affinity groups are generally precluded from being under the aegis of any governmental agency, and their purposes must be primarily non-commercial.  Examples of affinity groups include [[private club|private social clubs]], [[fraternity|fraternities]], writing or [[Book discussion club|reading circle]]s, hobby clubs, and groups engaged in political activism.

Some affinity groups are organized in a non-[[Hierarchy|hierarchical]] manner, often using [[consensus decision making]], and are frequently made up of trusted [[friendship|friends]]. They provide a method of organization that is flexible and decentralized.  Other affinity groups may have a hierarchy to provide management of the group's long-term interests, or if the group is large enough to require the delegation of responsibilities to other members or staff.

Affinity groups can be based on a common social identity or [[ideology]] (e.g., [[anarchism]], [[conservatism]]), a shared concern for a given issue (e.g., [[anti-nuclear]], [[anti-abortion movement|anti-abortion]]), a common activity, role, interest or skill (e.g., [[Legal Support|legal support]], medical aid, [[software engineering]]), or shared personal identity (e.g. [[Race (human categorization)|race/ethnicity]], [[gender]], [[disability]], [[Culture|cultural]] interests). Affinity groups may have either open or closed membership, although the latter is far more common.  Some charge membership dues or expect members to share the cost of the group's expenses.

==Employee and professional affinity groups==

Affinity groups in the workplace or as part of a professional association are composed of people who share similar backgrounds or interests. In the workplace, they are also referred to as [[Employee Resource Groups]] (ERGs) that form a part of the organization [[diversity, equity, and inclusion]] efforts. Employee affinity groups are historically race- and gender-based but now also include groups that recognize affinity in age, veteran status or [[sexual identity]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2019-10-11 |title=Today’s Affinity Groups: Risks and Rewards |url=https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/employment-law/pages/affinity-groups-risks-rewards.aspx |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=SHRM (Society for Human Resources Management) |language=en-US}}</ref> As part of a [[professional association]], affinity group members engage in networking, mentoring, and opportunities for both professional and personal development.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sha |first=Mandy |date=May 2023 |title=Cross-cultural and multilingual research affinity group |url=https://aapor.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AffinityGroup_Issue05-May2023.pdf |access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=American Association for Public Opinion Research}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sha |first=Mandy |date=2019-05-14 |title=Professional Association and Pathways to Leadership in Our Profession |url=https://www.surveypractice.org/article/8192-professional-association-and-pathways-to-leadership-in-our-profession |journal=Survey Practice |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |doi=10.29115/SP-2018-0039 |doi-access=free}}</ref> 

==Political affinity groups==

Affinity groups engaged in political activism date to 19th century [[Spain]]. It was a favourite way of organization by [[Anarchism in Spain|Spanish anarchists]] (''grupos de afinidad''), and had their base in the [[tertulias]] or in the local groups.<ref>{{Cite web|title=rantcollective.net|url=http://ww12.rantcollective.net/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519032829/http://www.rantcollective.net/article.php?id=33|archive-date=May 19, 2006|website=ww12.rantcollective.net}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025|reason=Cited source is the dead website of an obscure activist collective.}}

Politically oriented affinity groups in the United States gained public attention during the anti-Vietnam War movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The term was first used by [[Ben Morea]] and the group [[Black Mask (NYC)|Black Mask]]. Later, [[Peace movement|anti-war]] activists on college campuses organized around their hobbies or backgrounds -- [[religion|religious]], [[gender]], [[ethnic group]], etc. They became popular in the 1970s in the [[anti-nuclear]] movement in the [[United States]] and [[Europe]]. The 30,000 person occupation and blockade of the Ruhr nuclear power station in Germany in 1969 was organized on the Affinity group model.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Starhawk.org : Affinity groups|url=http://www.starhawk.org/activism/trainer-resources/affinitygroups.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828113336/http://www.starhawk.org/activism/trainer-resources/affinitygroups.html|archive-date=August 28, 2006}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025|reason=Cited source is a self-published post on an activist's personal website.}}<ref>[http://www.uproot.info/affinity.html Uproot : Affinity groups]</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025|reason=Cited source is a self-published post on an obscure old website.}} Today, the structure is used by many different activists: [[animal rights]], [[environmentalism|environmental]], [[anti-war]], and [[anti-globalization]], to name some examples.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

The 1999 [[WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity|protests in Seattle]] which shut down the [[WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999]] included coordinated organization by many clusters of Affinity groups.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aidc.org.za/?q=book%2Fview%2F136 |title=Seattle prepares for battle - Trade before freedom |access-date=2021-04-01 |archive-date=2020-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025105132/http://aidc.org.za/?q=book%2Fview%2F136 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Organization==

===External===
By definition, Affinity groups are [[Autonomy|autonomous]] from any larger body. Co-ordinated effort and co-operation amongst several Affinity groups, however, is often achieved by using a loose form of [[confederation]].  Private clubs, for example, may cooperate through reciprocal agreements which allow the members of one club to use the facilities of another club in a different location. Other affinity groups, such as [[Rotary International|Rotarians]] or [[Toastmasters]], may be individual units that conform to shared standards so that one may participate in another group of the same name anywhere on earth without requiring the individual to reapply for a new membership.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

*''Cluster'': The cluster is the basic unit of organization amongst Affinity groups. A cluster consists of several Affinity groups and is organized in a non-hierarchical manner. A cluster can be permanent, but is more often an [[ad hoc]] grouping organized for one specific task or action. One can be organized around a shared goal (e.g. [[Blockade|blockading]] a particular road), a common ideology (e.g. [[Religious Society of Friends|the Quakers]]) or a place of origin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=rantcollective.net|url=http://ww12.rantcollective.net/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519033258/http://www.rantcollective.net/article.php?id=31|archive-date=May 19, 2006|website=ww12.rantcollective.net}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025|reason=Cited source is the dead website of an obscure activist collective.}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Austinspokes.org|url=http://www.austinspokes.org/glossary.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709111426/http://www.austinspokes.org/glossary.shtml|archive-date=July 9, 2006}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025|reason=Cited source is the dead website of an obscure activist collective.}}
*''[[Spokescouncil]]'': The spokescouncil is an aggregate of clusters and Affinity groups. Each Affinity group or cluster nominates one representative (often called a "spoke") to participate in the council. Spokescouncils are most often temporary bodies, committed to accomplishing one task or event.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Austinspokes.org What is a spokescouncil?|url=http://www.austinspokes.org/spokescouncil.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709111439/http://www.austinspokes.org/spokescouncil.shtml|archive-date=July 9, 2006}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2025|reason=Cited source is the dead website of an obscure activist collective.}}

===Internal===
Affinity groups tend to be loosely organized, however there are some  formal roles or positions that commonly occur. A given Affinity group may have all, some or none of these positions. They may be permanent or temporary and the group may opt to take turns in these roles, or assign one role to one person.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

*''[[Spokesperson]]'' (or just ''spoke''): The individual charged with representing the Affinity group at a spokescouncil or cluster meeting. Occasionally, the spoke will be granted a more general [[ambassador]]ial role by the Affinity group.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
*''Facilitator'': A person or people who perform [[Facilitation (business)|facilitation]] duties in [[consensus decision-making|consensus process]] of the group and also, to varying degrees, act as arbiter of internal conflicts.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
*''Media contact'': An individual who represents the group to the [[mass media]]. Often this individual is the same person as the Spoke.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
*''Vibe watch'': A person or people charged with monitoring the [[Mood (psychology)|mood]] and [[feeling]] of the group. The reference is to ''vibrations'' in the colloquial emotional sense. In some Affinity groups, the vibe watch is also charged with keeping the facilitator from using his or her role to favor any position or proposal.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
*''Snap-decision facilitator'': Also called "quick decision facilitator", this is a person charged with making decisions for the group in time-constrained or high-pressure situations. The position is rare and is almost always temporary (contrast with the pre-Imperial Roman concept of a [[Roman dictator|temporary dictator]]).{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

==See also==
*[[Community of interest]]
*[[Racial segregation]]
*[[Religious segregation]]
*[[Ruckus Society]]
*[[Security culture]]
*[[Sex segregation]]
*[[Professional association]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060222063631/http://www.directaction.org/index.html Directaction.org] - hundreds of AG actions, photos, and resources
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130627152743/http://www.consensus.net/formalconsensusfor100.html Generic Organizational Structure Outline] for Affinity groups

{{Anarchism}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Affinity group}}
[[Category:Activism by type]]
[[Category:Anarchist terminology]]
[[Category:Anarchist theory]]
[[Category:Autonomism]]
[[Category:Civil disobedience]]