...Training for Nonviolent Action Training ourselves on tactical and strategic nonviolent action is essential to maximize possibilities and results. What does this kind of training entail? Practitioners included: Srdja Popovic and Giorgi Meladze from CANVAS Sam La Rocca, Jason MacLeod, James Whelan, Holly Hammond, and Anthony Kelly from The Change Agency Zsuzsanna Kacsó, Bianca Cseke and Corina Simon from PATRIR Daniel Hunter, Joe Catania, and Philippe Duhamel from Training for Change Linda Sartor from Nonviolent Peaceforce Dola Nicholas Oluoch from Chemchemi Ya Ukweli-Active Ouyporn Khuankaew from International Women's Partnership for Peace and Justice Shaazka Beyerle from The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict Hardy Merriman, an independent consultant in the field of strategic nonviolent conflict Learn more about the experienced nonviolent action trainers who shared their ideas and resources during the dialogue. Summary of Dialogue Moving Nonviolent Action Theory to Practice Enormous and exciting developments have taken place over recent decades to make this strategic theory available and accessible to people around the world, notably through education and mainstream acceptance of the theory. Core concepts of successful nonviolent action are support, careful planning and strong leadership. It is essential to have a vision and strategic plan and to develop the tactics and campaigns necessary to achieve it. Most often, movements tend to happen...
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...|CONSTRUCTING NONVIOLENT ALTERNATIVES TO COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE: A SCIENTIFIC STRATEGY | |Mark A Mattaini. Behavior and Social Issues. Chicago:Fall 2003. Vol. 12, Iss. 2, p. 148-163 (16 pp.) | | | Collective violence (including terrorism, gang violence, civil war, separatist ethnic and religious conflicts, and government sponsored wars) is a central concern of the 21st century. This analysis suggests a scientific strategy for reducing such violence by constructing functionally equivalent and highly effective nonviolent collective alternatives. This general approach is the heart of most effective programs of behavior change, but has not yet been used to address terrorism and other forms of collective violence. The paper briefly traces the history of effective nonviolent action, including both strategies to confront and reduce oppression as well as strategies for defending persons, peoples, and social institutions against attack. It then turns to a examination of cultural practices on which successful nonviolent actions have relied, emphasizing a scientific analysis of the behavioral dynamics involved. Both practices directed toward opposition groups and practices that maintain the commitment and action of group members are investigated. The paper concludes with an outline of...
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...Labor rights activist, Cesar Chavez, in his argumentative article, written on the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King, asserts that nonviolent resistance is more effective than violent protesting. Chavez’s purpose is to convince the usually radical, religious magazine’s readers that the only beneficial solution is to resist nonviolently. He adopts an ardent tone in order to demonstrate his strong emotions towards his struggle for nonviolent resistance. Chavez entwined the appeal to his audience’s emotion in his article. He implied aristocratic business owners when he stated, “those who espouse violence exploit people.” This directly leads the audience to recall the struggles of the United Farm Workers in their nonviolent protests and marches against the often violent police. By forcing readers to draw upon such vivid emotions, they are guided to agree with Chavez’s call for nonviolence, since they do not want to suffer from the less effective, violent...
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...by Abebe Gellaw was first published in March 2011. Given its timelessness, the paper is being published for the second time. “Freedom is not free; you have to pay for it.” Anonymous In May 2005, over 2 million Ethiopians came out in full force to demand change Imagine the power all these people wield collectively when they decide to act together for radical change, dignity and freedom Nonviolent struggle is a smart option for Ethiopians to end tyranny As ordinary Egyptians have erupted in jubilant euphoria at Tahrir Square and on the streets of Egypt after the fall of the three-decade long dictator Hosni Mubarak, Ethiopians in and outside of the country have been keenly watching the wind of change from North Africa. We have witnessed history unfolding once again. When people are determined to be free, nothing can stop them. After an epic struggle against him, Mubarak had no choice but to surrender. The world is a better place with the fall of one more dictator. What a beautiful moment to celebrate and watch! The momentous events in Egypt and Tunisia are testimony to the power of nonviolent struggle. When people are united and speak in one voice, nothing can stop them. No guns and tanks have stopped the peaceful revolutions that have ended tyranny and ushered in liberation to ordinary people in many countries across the world. Ethiopians also know what revolutions are like. But they have never tasted the sweetness of freedom and smelt the aroma of true liberation. The new revolution...
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...2009 Violent Vs. Nonviolent Revolution During the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr. captured the positive attention of the nation, not by murder, but with his philosophy and commitment to the method of nonviolent revolutions (afroamhistory). According to Martin Luther King Jr., this was the only solution that could get rid of society’s evil and create a just society among the whole nation. He put his belief into action and proved that using peaceful methods, such as leading protests and marches for civil rights, was an effective method to eliminate racial segregation. In his protests, the passive resistance actions reduced the threat of violence and caused greater participation from ordinary people in the movement. n him. He was closed minded and acted out of hate by killing to set an example, never trying the idea of a peaceful uprising to show his passion and beliefs. Martin Luther King Jr. chose to look at the whole situation and the problem within, instead of acting out of hate like Che. King believed that there were six main points behind a nonviolent revolution. He believed that nonviolent revolutions were not cowardly even though the protestor was not physically aggressive, his mind and emotions are always active, seeking to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken. The second point that Martin Luther King Jr. made was that nonviolent resistance awakens moral shame in the opponent. Other points that he made were that nonviolent resistance is a battle...
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...citizens organize initiative to reach a desired outcome that ultimately benefits society. The omnipresent notion of civil disobedience has historically been a detrimental pillar of multitudinous social and political revolutions. Civil disobedience serves a healthy factor of democracy because it creates a vocal platform for unaddressed deficiencies of society, it is an effective approach to promoting change peacefully, and it unifies support for greater reform. One of the most influential ways to communicate the ills of a society is to highlight controversy and shift in human attitudes. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, nonviolent disobedience “seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored” (King Jr.). In fact, one of the most significant elements of the American Civil Rights movement was this doctrine of disobedience. During this time...
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...The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a direct actioncampaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider Civil Disobedience Movement. This was the most significant organized challenge to British authority since the Non-cooperation movement of 1920–22, and directly followed the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence by the Indian National Congresson January 26, 1930. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (commonly called Mahatma Gandhi) led the Dandi march from his base, Sabarmati Ashram near Ahmedabad, to the sea coast near the village of Dandi. As he continued on this 23 day, 240 mile (390 km) march to produce salt without paying the tax, growing numbers of Indians joined him along the way. When Gandhi broke the salt laws at 6:30 am on April 6, 1930, it sparked large scale acts of civil disobedienceagainst the British Raj salt laws by millions of Indians. The campaign had a significant effect on changing world and British attitudes toward Indian independence and caused large numbers of Indians to join the fight for the first time. After making salt at Dandi, Gandhi continued southward along the coast, producing salt and addressing meetings on the way. His group planned to stage a satyagraha at the Dharasana Salt Works, 25 miles south of Dandi. However, Gandhi was arrested on the midnight...
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...Critique of Nonviolent Politics From Mahatma Gandhi to the Anti-Nuclear Movement by Howard Ryan (howard@netwood.net) Preface 2 Part I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Problems of Nonviolent Theory Nonviolent Philosophy 6 Moral View: Violence Itself Is Wrong 9 Practical View: Violence Begets Violence 13 Nonviolent Theory of Power 21 Voluntary Suffering 24 Common Nonviolent Arguments 34 A Class Perspective 49 Part II 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Gandhi: A Critical History Father of Nonviolence 56 Satyagraha in South Africa 59 Textile Strike 66 Noncooperation Movement 1919-22 70 Religious Conflicts 80 Salt Satyagraha 87 Congress Ministries 97 The War Years 101 Independence and Bloodshed 111 Part III 17 18 19 20 Nonviolence in the Anti-Nuclear Movement Nonviolent Direct Action 120 Consensus Decision Making 123 Open, Friendly, and Respectful 136 Civil Disobedience 142 Epilogue 151 Notes 154 ©2002 by Howard Ryan. All rights reserved. Readers have my permission to use and distribute for non-profit and educational purposes. Critique of Nonviolent Politics 2 Preface (2002) Critique of Nonviolent Politics may be the only comprehensive critique of nonviolent theory that has been written. I wrote it between 1980 and 1984, while living in Berkeley, California. Since 1977, I had been active in the movement against nuclear power and weapons which, in California, focused its protests at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant near San Luis Obispo, and at the University of California's Lawrence Livermore Labs where...
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...Cesar Chavez, a labor union organizer and civil rights leader, explains to his audience why nonviolent resistances are more effective than a violent one would be. Concluding this statement, he does this through his use of illustrating how if we do this, then that will be the result. He also introduces how Dr. King and Ghandi got what they were looking to accomplish done through peace. First, throughout the magazine article Cesar uses pathos to define the outcomes of “If we do this” or “If we do that”, then there will be a result to appeal to his reader’s inner emotions. In paragraph 4, he says, “If we resort to violence, then one two things will happen”, he finishes by explaining the forecast of how the violence will advance and could potentially result in injuries, death, and possible demoralization. By explaining the consequences that could become it redirects his audience to want to try prevent things like above to happen to them as well...
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...they can also convince other people that the habits and customs of the community can be changed. They are willing to be the catalysts even if they have to face opposition. They even consider the risk of death and injury to be less important than their purpose. Indeed, if no one was willing to take risks, we would not be able to live in such a highly developed society today (Smith, 2006). For example, thanks to Martin Luther King Jr. for using nonviolent resistance to overcome injustice, for trying to end segregation laws, and now, there is no longer segregation in restaurants, on the buses, etc. Anything that happened must have started from one person, even if that is not the person who we can recognize today in our history books. Tollefson (1993) writes in his article "Is a Hero Nothing but a Sandwich?," that without a leader, changes in society might also happen but with slower rate and unclear vision. Leaders have determination, self-discipline, willpower, and nerve. They set goals and have a vision of the future. Effective leaders envision what needs to be done, how to get it, and go after it. However, leaders also need the community as much as the community needs them. Making changes in society will never...
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...Civil disobedience however excludes people who unconsciously violate an unjust law.” The defining of just or unjust laws often times include individual moral conviction with a religious undertone. These undertones are most times the root of the conviction. Whereas what starts as a morally correct issue to address, it includes a spiritual connection to a person’s position on creation or their higher power. This paper will attempt to rationalize the existence of civil disobedience based on moral judgement. It will explain how the existence of civil disobedience is essential to change, based on various historical movements and influential...
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...boycotts, challenging discriminatory laws that threatened their equality. Malcolm X is just one of the many leaders that propelled the civil rights movement with his concepts of black supremacy, segregation, and Islam. Malcolm X’s philosophy was effective because it encouraged African- Americans to create self-sustainable businesses, logically strengthen their economy, and unite as a group of people to defend their rights; therefore, his philosophy ignited the assemblage of African Americans, forcing legislative figures to compose new laws. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans organized their own businesses to eliminate subjection to the superior white class. Many successful businesses were owned by whites, so to combat the lack of black,...
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...Montgomery Bus Boycott, Gandhi’s Salt March, and Martin Luther King Jr. are well-known examples of nonviolent movements. Although they are not completely peaceful, these movements have a cause and people did not use violence to solve the problem. But how are we supposed to deal with psychopaths randomly killing innocent people? In order to protect peace and order, authorized people (i.e. military, policemen) should use reasonable violence to protect those who are vulnerable. Violence and Nonviolence are indeed ways to solve conflicts within the society. In an article by Max Fisher (2013), he stated that political scientist Erica Chenoweth showed that nonviolent revolutions have been more successful than violent once because violence caused by the participants will only make the government use violence to fight back, and it will also discourage participants to join because of the danger of being harmed in the crossfire. The story “The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel García Márquez showed how the crowd already resorted to violence to make the Old Man respond to them; but even so, the Old Man remained nonviolent throughout the story. This is all right because the Old Man had no one to protect except himself. If you can tolerate a bit of violence without being violent in return, then that is good. But what if the Old Man had others to protect? Should he still remain nonviolent and let the crowd hurt them? On the other hand, using violence without proper reason is very...
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...large crowd began chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" That was slowly forming around us like vultures circling to pick at the bones of the unfortunate loser. Realizing that the odds of me emerging alive from this mess weren’t very good, I began to think of a strategy that would enable all my major organs to remain intact. I decided to use humor to defeat this barbaric beast. I must have ridiculed and made fun of myself over 200 times. I told him that even if he passed out, in a full body cast, and suffered from leprosy, he still could wipe the floor with my feeble body. I told him if he didn't disfigure me, that I would offer to be his own personal reusable toothpick for as long as he wished. Violence and nonviolence are two very effective ways to solve problems, but for people like me whose brains are stronger than their fists, nonviolence seems much more practical and less harmful. I'm not a tree hugging' hippy or a follower of Gandhi. I simply believe, and history supports my beliefs, that violence and nonviolence are two strategies of solving a problem. The flaw of violence is theoretically you’re trying to counteract a negative with a negative, or as an old saying goes "fighting fire with fire". What...
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...Civil Rights Movement from 1942 to 1970 The Civil rights movement was a movement within the United States of America in the 1940s to 1970s and led primarily by Blacks. Which was an effort to establish gender and racial equality for all African Americans worldwide. The aim of this movement was to remove racial discrimination, restore economic and to gain back freedom as being an African American. This movement produces many great leaders, and social changes that resulted as organized within the civil rights takin place. Helped the African American people also urge them to pursue their American dreams. The Civil Rights Act was a congressional act that prohibited discrimination in employment or the use of public places on the basis of race, sex religion, or national origin (Schaller G-4). This was the most massive issue in which the Black Americans struggle to end the segregation to be able to get all the rights deserved as citizens. Over the years passed by many was practicing in nonviolent protestation between all the Americans was being discriminated against. This may have included local government businesses, and at times even the whole communities got involved mobilized for a massive expansion of the movement in the coming decades (Schaller, 993). After the Cold War the African Americans needed to have alliances with the whites, legal resources, and leadership. This than put into Action the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Civil Rights...
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