WHAT IS THIS?Unrest?Opposition?Protest?Uprising?Revolution?

CIVIL RESISTANCE

EmergingForce for Rightsand Justice

StructureStructure AgencyAgency

StatesStates Non-State Non-State ActorsActors

GovernmentsGovernments CitizensCitizens

RulersRulers PeoplePeople

LawsLaws ConsentConsent

ElitesElites Civil SocietyCivil Society

InstitutionsInstitutions MovementsMovements

ConditionsConditions SkillsSkills

PhysicalPhysical PoliticalPolitical

UnrestUnrest ResistanceResistance

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

“The Right to Rise Up”

A half-century later, A half-century later,

Leo Tolstoy predicted Leo Tolstoy predicted

that “public opinion” that “public opinion”

would change the would change the

““whole structure of life”whole structure of life”

making violence making violence

““superfluous.”superfluous.”

“The Right to Rise Up”Gandhi was “overwhelmed” by Gandhi was “overwhelmed” by Tolstoy’s thinking…Tolstoy’s thinking…

- Irish resistance - Irish resistance toto British rule British rule (e.g. rent(e.g. rent strikes)strikes)

- 1905 Russian - 1905 Russian revolution revolution

(e.g. (e.g. marches, strikes)marches, strikes)

Tactics of Tactics of ResistanceResistanceProtest/PersuasionProtest/Persuasion- Petitions, symbols, vigilsPetitions, symbols, vigils- Marches, walk-outsMarches, walk-outs

Non-cooperationNon-cooperation- Boycotts, strikes, sit-ins Boycotts, strikes, sit-ins - Civil disobedienceCivil disobedience

InterventionIntervention- - Blockades, seizuresBlockades, seizures

The Dynamic of The Dynamic of ResistanceResistance

When the people When the people deprive an oppressor deprive an oppressor of their consent, it of their consent, it reduces his reduces his legitimacylegitimacy..

When enough people When enough people refuse to cooperate, refuse to cooperate, they increase the cost they increase the cost of holding of holding controlcontrol..

When the system’s When the system’s legitimacy drops and legitimacy drops and its costs rise, its its costs rise, its enforcers doubt its enforcers doubt its enduranceendurance..

RECORD OF RESISTANCEThe 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)

RESULTS OF RESISTANCE In the 35 years between 1970 In the 35 years between 1970

and 2005, there were 67 and 2005, there were 67 transitions from authoritarian transitions from authoritarian to democratic governments.to democratic governments.

In 50 of 67In 50 of 67transitions, the transitions, the key factor was key factor was nonviolent force.nonviolent force.

Where does this happen? Where does this happen?

…in people’s …in people’s mindsmindsTwo modes of language and Two modes of language and

motivation:motivation:

Ideational: Summoning beliefIdeational: Summoning belief Content of ideas resonates with Content of ideas resonates with people’s values, and activates people’s values, and activates identification with “the other”, e.g. identification with “the other”, e.g. community, posterity.community, posterity.

Instrumental: Manipulating behaviorInstrumental: Manipulating behaviorContent geared to personal material Content geared to personal material self-interest, participation is rented.self-interest, participation is rented.

““We are the mothers of the We are the mothers of the disappeared, and we have disappeared, and we have come to ask, ‘Where are our come to ask, ‘Where are our children.’”children.’”

The Unifying The Unifying PropositionProposition

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?”

The Unifying The Unifying PropositionProposition

Features of the Gandhi propositionFeatures of the Gandhi proposition

1.1. Identifies those who are responsible for the Identifies those who are responsible for the injusticeinjustice

2.2. An argument about how people are An argument about how people are governed – how power is usedgoverned – how power is used

3.3. Identifies the system’s unfairness Identifies the system’s unfairness

4.4. Explains that the people have allowed Explains that the people have allowed these wrongs to persist, but have the these wrongs to persist, but have the power to change thempower to change them

Emergent properties Emergent properties of civil of civil

resistanceresistancereason reason

- respects the citizen’s - respects the citizen’s

mindmind

- persuasion, not coercion- persuasion, not coercion

- signals honesty &- signals honesty &

credibilitycredibility

Emergent properties Emergent properties of civil of civil

resistanceresistance

Self-ruleSelf-rule-- SwarajSwaraj-- Self-organization Self-organization -- PlanningPlanning-- Nonviolent Nonviolent

disciplinediscipline

Emergent properties Emergent properties of civil of civil

resistanceresistanceREPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION- Ascertaining/presenting grievancesAscertaining/presenting grievances- Listening, delegating, inviting Listening, delegating, inviting

participationparticipation- Humility, not hierarchyHumility, not hierarchy- Solidarity of all, Solidarity of all,

not heroism of a fewnot heroism of a few

Emergent properties Emergent properties of civil of civil

resistanceresistanceRESILIENCERESILIENCE- MomentumMomentum- Existential stakesExistential stakes- Certitude of faith inCertitude of faith in

eventual successeventual success

Fannie Lou HamerFannie Lou Hamer

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 of submissive to threats of repression and violence?repression and violence?

oror

A citizen, able to develop A citizen, able to develop the means to obtain powerthe means to obtain powerto win your rights?to win your rights?

Demand for Militant Demand for Militant StruggleStruggle

From people who want…From people who want…

--Self-determination Self-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)

““To End To End Violence…Violence…

……Struggle Struggle for Justice”for Justice”- Sign held by Sign held by anti-apartheid protester, anti-apartheid protester, South Africa, 1986South Africa, 1986

Taksim Square, Istanbul, Taksim Square, Istanbul, June 2013June 2013

Another year, another Another year, another people: another future in people: another future in the making.the making.