The modern practice of civil resistance sprang from new ideas about the underlying nature of political power that began to be framed about 170 years ago. As later developed by Gandhi and adopted by scores of movements and campaigns for rights and justice in recent decades, strategies of civil resistance have exhibited a common dynamic, propelled historic changes, and imparted certain political and social properties to the societies in which those changes happened. The record of these strategies in liberating oppressed people, when compared to violent insurgency or revolution, has been remarkable – and suggests why political violence may recede in the future.
4. CIVIL RESISTANCE
“Power concedes nothing and it
never will. Find out just what
any people will quietly submit
to, and you have found out the
exact measure of injustice and
wrong which will be imposed
upon them, and these will
continue until they are
resisted…The limits of tyrants
are prescribed by the
endurance of those whom they
oppress.” – Frederick Douglass
5. “The Right to Rise
Up”
A half-century later,A half-century later,
Leo Tolstoy predictedLeo Tolstoy predicted
that “public opinion”that “public opinion”
would change thewould change the
““whole structure of life”whole structure of life”
making violencemaking violence
““superfluous.”superfluous.”
6. “The Right to Rise Up”
Gandhi was “overwhelmed” byGandhi was “overwhelmed” by
Tolstoy’s thinking…Tolstoy’s thinking…
- Irish resistance to- Irish resistance to
British rule (e.g. rentBritish rule (e.g. rent
strikes)strikes)
- 1905 Russian- 1905 Russian
revolution (e.g.revolution (e.g.
marches, strikes)marches, strikes)
8. The Dynamic of ResistanceThe Dynamic of Resistance
When the people deprive anWhen the people deprive an
oppressor of theiroppressor of their
consent, it reduces hisconsent, it reduces his
legitimacylegitimacy..
When enough people refuseWhen enough people refuse
to cooperate, theyto cooperate, they
increase the cost ofincrease the cost of
holdingholding controlcontrol..
When the system’sWhen the system’s
legitimacy drops and itslegitimacy drops and its
costs rise, its enforcerscosts rise, its enforcers
doubt itsdoubt its enduranceendurance..
9. RECORD OF RESISTANCE
The great nation-changing nonviolent movements:The great nation-changing nonviolent movements:
Indians (1920s-40s)Indians (1920s-40s) East Germans (1989)East Germans (1989)
Salvadorans (1944)Salvadorans (1944) Mongolians (1990Mongolians (1990))
African-Americans (‘60s)African-Americans (‘60s) Malians (1991)Malians (1991)
Poles (1970s-1980s)Poles (1970s-1980s) Russians (1991)Russians (1991)
South Africans (‘84-’92)South Africans (‘84-’92) Serbs (2000)Serbs (2000)
Chileans (1985-1988)Chileans (1985-1988) Georgians (2003)Georgians (2003)
Filipinos (1986)Filipinos (1986) Ukrainians (2004)Ukrainians (2004)
Czechs/Slovaks (1989)Czechs/Slovaks (1989) Maldivians (2008)Maldivians (2008)
10. RESULTS OF RESISTANCE
In the 35 years between 1970 and 2005,In the 35 years between 1970 and 2005,
there were 67 transitions fromthere were 67 transitions from
authoritarian to democraticauthoritarian to democratic
governments.governments.
In 50 of 67In 50 of 67
transitions, thetransitions, the
key factor waskey factor was
nonviolent force.nonviolent force.
11. Where does this happen?Where does this happen?
…in people’s minds…in people’s minds
Two modes of language and motivation:Two modes of language and motivation:
Ideational: Summoning beliefIdeational: Summoning belief
Content of ideas resonates with people’sContent of ideas resonates with people’s
values, and activates identification with “thevalues, and activates identification with “the
other”, e.g. community, posterity.other”, e.g. community, posterity.
Instrumental: Manipulating behaviorInstrumental: Manipulating behavior
Content geared to personal material self-Content geared to personal material self-
interest, participation is rented.interest, participation is rented.
12. ““We are the mothers of the disappeared,We are the mothers of the disappeared,
and we have come to ask, ‘Where are ourand we have come to ask, ‘Where are our
children.’”children.’”
13. The Unifying PropositionThe Unifying Proposition
Gandhi’s Proposition to IndiansGandhi’s Proposition to Indians::
“The British are ruling this
country for their own benefit,
so why should we help them?”
14. The Unifying PropositionThe Unifying Proposition
Features of the Gandhi propositionFeatures of the Gandhi proposition
1.1. Identifies those who are responsible for theIdentifies those who are responsible for the
injusticeinjustice
2.2. An argument about how people are governed – howAn argument about how people are governed – how
power is usedpower is used
3.3. Identifies the system’s unfairnessIdentifies the system’s unfairness
4.4. Explains that the people have allowed these wrongsExplains that the people have allowed these wrongs
to persist, but have the power to change themto persist, but have the power to change them
15. Emergent propertiesEmergent properties
of civilof civil
resistanceresistance
reasonreason
- respects the citizen’s- respects the citizen’s
mindmind
- persuasion, not coercion- persuasion, not coercion
- signals honesty &- signals honesty &
credibilitycredibility
17. Emergent propertiesEmergent properties
of civilof civil
resistanceresistance
rePresenTaTIonrePresenTaTIon
- Ascertaining/presenting grievancesAscertaining/presenting grievances
- Listening, delegating, inviting participationListening, delegating, inviting participation
- Humility, not hierarchyHumility, not hierarchy
- Solidarity of all,Solidarity of all,
not heroism of a fewnot heroism of a few
18. Emergent propertiesEmergent properties
of civilof civil
resistanceresistance
resIlIenCeresIlIenCe
- MomentumMomentum
- Existential stakesExistential stakes
- Certitude of faith inCertitude of faith in
eventual successeventual success
Fannie Lou HamerFannie Lou Hamer
19. The Basis of Resistance:The Basis of Resistance:
A Choice of IdentityA Choice of Identity
““Who are you?”Who are you?”
The object of a ruling elite,The object of a ruling elite,
submissive to threats ofsubmissive to threats of
repression and violence?repression and violence?
oror
A citizen, able to developA citizen, able to develop
the means to obtain powerthe means to obtain power
to win your rights?to win your rights?
20. Demand for Militant StruggleDemand for Militant Struggle
From people who want…From people who want…
--Self-determinationSelf-determination
(West Papua, Nagaland)(West Papua, Nagaland)
-End to dictatorship-End to dictatorship
(Burma, Iran)(Burma, Iran)
-End to occupation-End to occupation
(West Sahara, Palestine)(West Sahara, Palestine)
21. ““To End Violence…To End Violence…
……StruggleStruggle
for Justice”for Justice”
- Sign held bySign held by
anti-apartheid protester,anti-apartheid protester,
South Africa, 1986South Africa, 1986
22. Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 2013Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 2013
Another year, another people:Another year, another people:
another future in theanother future in the
making.making.
