CIVIL RESISTANCE

EmergingForce for Rightsand Justice

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)

A New Way to “Rise Up”Gandhi’s “nonviolent weapons” Gandhi’s “nonviolent weapons”

in resisting British rule:in resisting British rule:

- Mass marches/protestsMass marches/protests- Refusal to pay taxesRefusal to pay taxes- Boycotts, resignationsBoycotts, resignations- Active interferenceActive interference

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.

The risks of strategic The risks of strategic choiceschoicesTiananmen Square, June 1989Tiananmen Square, June 1989

““Tactics without strategy is the noise before Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”defeat.”

- Sun Tzu- Sun Tzu

Triumphs of people Triumphs of people power….power….

Emergent properties Emergent properties of civil of civil

resistanceresistanceConsentConsent

- confers legitimacy- confers legitimacy

- recasts the idea of - recasts the idea of powerpower

- creates space to resist- creates space to resist

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

resistanceresistanceSelf-ruleSelf-rule

-- SwarajSwaraj-- Self-organization Self-organization -- PlanningPlanning-- Nonviolent Nonviolent

disciplinediscipline

Emergent properties Emergent properties of civil of civil

resistanceresistanceREPRESENTATIONREPRESENTATION- Ascertaining and presenting people’s Ascertaining and presenting people’s

grievancesgrievances- Listening, delegating and inviting Listening, delegating and inviting

participationparticipation- Humility, not hierarchyHumility, not hierarchy- Solidarity of all, not heroism of the fewSolidarity of all, not heroism of the 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

Emergent properties Emergent properties of civil of civil

resistanceresistanceTRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATION

- No monolithic enemiesNo monolithic enemies- Everyone a stakeholderEveryone a stakeholder- Ends reflected in meansEnds reflected in means

How Resistance Changes How Resistance Changes EverythingEverything

““By breaking the rules of By breaking the rules of the game, [the dissident] the game, [the dissident] has disrupted the game…He has disrupted the game…He has shattered the world of has shattered the world of appearances… He has appearances… He has shown everyone that it is shown everyone that it is possible to live within the possible to live within the truth. Living within the lie truth. Living within the lie can constitute the system can constitute the system only if it is universal…and only if it is universal…and therefore everyone who therefore everyone who steps out of line denies it in steps out of line denies it in principle and threatens it in principle and threatens it in its entirety.”its entirety.”

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 violencesubmissive to threats of violence……and social anesthesia?and social anesthesia?

oror

A citizen, able to resist the A citizen, able to resist the lie that injustice can’t be lie that injustice can’t be opposed, able to develop opposed, able to develop the means to obtain power?the means to obtain power?

Demand for Militant Demand for Militant StruggleStruggle

From people who want…From people who want…

--Self-determination Self-determination (West Papuans, Sahrawis)(West Papuans, Sahrawis)

-End to dictatorship-End to dictatorship (Syria, Belarus, Fiji)(Syria, Belarus, Fiji)

-End to violence-End to violence (Mexico, Nigeria)(Mexico, Nigeria)

Violent v. Nonviolent Violent v. Nonviolent PowerPowerNew study of 323 violent and New study of 323 violent and

nonviolentnonviolentcampaigns, 1900 to 2006:campaigns, 1900 to 2006:

-Violent campaigns -Violent campaigns succeeded in 26% of cases. succeeded in 26% of cases.

-Nonviolent campaigns -Nonviolent campaigns succeeded in 53% of cases.succeeded in 53% of cases.

Stephen & Chenoweth, “Why Civil ResistanceStephen & Chenoweth, “Why Civil ResistanceWorks”, Works”, International SecurityInternational Security, Summer 2008, Summer 2008..

What Civil Resistance What Civil Resistance DeliversDelivers

• RightsRights• Self-ruleSelf-rule• JusticeJustice• DemocracyDemocracy• PeacePeace