stock here: it’s worth a revisit to Saul.
You’re likely thinking of Saul Alinsky, a political activist and community organizer best known for his book Rules for Radicals (1971). One of his key strategies for activism involved identifying, isolating, and polarizing a target. His most famous quote on this tactic is:
"Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."
(Rules for Radicals, 1971)This means that to create change, activists should focus public attention on a single person or entity, making them a symbol of the problem and turning them into a clear adversary. By doing this, the opposition is put on the defensive, while supporters have a rallying point.
Alinsky’s approach was widely influential in political organizing and has been used across the spectrum, from grassroots activism to large-scale political campaigns. His methods have been both praised for their effectiveness and criticized for fostering division.