Block & Build: Left Strategy in the MAGA Era is a new political education tool from Convergence designed to help us tackle the most urgent and strategic task of our political moment: blocking the rise of far-Right authoritarianism while building the capacity of progressive leadership in the anti-fascist front to set the standards and tenor of that struggle.
Convergence developed the Block & Build Syllabus for an internal study last year, but then realized that others could use this resource for their own work and organizations. We took the six-part syllabus back to the drawing board for critical updates and edits, and added a seventh part dealing with the Gaza crisis and the unique role that Palestine plays in US politics.
The organized Left had moved beyond abstentionism as a central strategy in 2016, and made a critical difference in the 2018, 2020, and 2022 elections. But this year presents fresh challenges to our movements’ engagement in electoral work, even as the stakes continue to rise. Block & Build speaks to our need for strategic approaches to broad-front politics that are deeply rooted in our principles and vision.
Seed the Vote joined Convergence for a special online launch for the syllabus on April 2. The event featured members of the Convergence staff and editorial board, along with Seed the Vote Executive Director Emily Ja-Ming Lee. They talked more about how the Block & Build study evolved, highlighted its core concepts, and shared some early experiences with using it. The syllabus itself is now available here.