Nonviolent MethodsGene Sharp, Ch. 3

Nonviolence: 198 Methods

• The power of rulers depends directly upon the obedience and cooperation of the population

• Nonviolence is an active method

• that restricts and severs a leader’s power

• and mobilizes one’s own power potential into effective power

Methods

• Protest

• Noncooperation

• Intervention

• Acts of Omission

• Acts of Commission

• Combination of Methods

Protest and Persuasion

• Symbolic actions

• To educate, show support or disapproval of an action, policy, group, or government

• Degree of risk/value is context specific

Noncooperation• People refuse to cooperate with

the existing power holders

• Degree of disruption depends upon

• Importance of activity

• Identity and Number of participants

• Duration of campaign

• Moderate to High Risk/Value

Subtypes of Noncooperation

• Social Noncooperation• Boycott social event, Withdrawal from social institutions, Student

strike

• Economic Noncooperation• Economic Boycotts/Labor Strikes (multiple types of each)

• Political Noncooperation• Boycott of elections, civil disobedience

Nonviolent Intervention• Active disruption of normal

operations, policies, or system by deliberate interference

• Psychological

• Physical

• Social

• Economic

• Political

• High Risk/Value

Psychological Intervention

• Fasting

• Self-exposure to the elements

• Reverse Trial

• Nonviolent Harassment

Physical Intervention• Sit-in

• Stand-in

• Prayer

• Nonviolent raids

• Nonviolent interjection (human shield)

• Nonviolent occupation

Protesters close downBangkok Airport

Social Intervention

• Overloading of facilities

• Speak-in

• New social patterns

• Alternative social and communication systems

Economic Intervention• Stay-in Strike

• Nonviolent Land Seizure

• Defiance of Blockades

• Alternate markets

• Alternate transportation

Political Intervention

• Overloading administrative systems

• Disclosing identity of secret agents

• Seeking imprisonment

• Civil disobedience of “neutral” law

• Parallel Government

Failure

• Misunderstanding of power dynamics/ conflict

• Misunderstanding of nonviolence

• Lack of strategic plan

• Lack of unity and focus

• Poor leadership

• Loss of momentum

Requirements for Success

• Advance Strategic Preparation

• Factors to consider:• Accurate understanding of power

dynamics and situation

• Organization and Development

• Strategic Engagement

• Flexibility, Creativity, and Continuity

Requirements for Success

• Articulation of a Grand Strategy (ultimate goal)

• Identification of prerequisite goals (stair-steps)

• Develop strategic campaigns using tactics that will optimize success

• Strike at opponents vulnerabilities

• Utilize resister’s strengths

• Can be used in combination with other methods for enhanced efficacy

http://optimumperformancetechnologies.blogspot.com/2007_09_09_archive.html

Success

• Partial-Success is very common

• Short-lived Victories occur when resisters fail to:

• Consolidate their gains

• Resist new threats

• Follow-through

Mechanisms for Achieving Success

• Conversion

• Win-Win situation

• Opponent has a change of heart

• Opponent chooses to accept the claims and conditions of the resistance movement

• Most rarely achieved

Mechanisms for Achieving Success

• Accommodation

• Compromise

• Usually focused on specific issues each side can agree to without “losing face”

• Common

Mechanisms for Achieving Success

• Nonviolent Coercion• Change occurs against

the opponent’s will because their needed sources of power has been seriously weakened or severed

• The opponent is no longer an effective, functioning leader

• Common

Mechanisms for Achieving Success

• Disintegration

• Noncooperation and Defiance are so overwhelming and strong, the opponent’s regime falls apart

• There isn’t even anyone left with sufficient power to surrender

• Less Common

Historical Awareness• Learn from past

mistakes

• Learn from past successes

• Build upon previously developed methods and tactics (don’t need to reinvent the wheel)!

http://thefitnesstutor.com/

What is “Success”?• How does one measure victory?

• Achievement of Goals

• Resolution of Initiating Conflict (both or conquering parties?)

• Total Casualties (Military/Civilian, Deaths/Injuries-- physical/psychological)

• Time

• Long-Term Effects

• Public Perception