Does Portland have the right idea??? See below for links to more information about the success of nonviolent protest movements.
Author: Michelle Nicholasen
Date: February 4, 2019
- Nonviolent vs. Violent Resistance: Research indicates that nonviolent civil resistance is more effective in achieving social and political change compared to violent campaigns.
- Erica Chenoweth’s Research: Initially a proponent of armed resistance, Chenoweth, along with Maria J. Stephan, conducted a systematic study analyzing 323 campaigns from 1900-2006, leading to the conclusion that nonviolent methods are more successful.
Key Elements for Successful Nonviolent Campaigns
- Large and Diverse Participation:
- Sustained involvement from a wide range of participants lowers barriers to entry.
- Loyalty Shifts Among Key Elites:
- Encouraging defections from security forces and other powerful elites is crucial since their support keeps regimes in power.
- Variety of Methods:
- Successful campaigns utilize diverse tactics rather than relying solely on protests.
- Response to Repression:
- Movements should avoid descending into chaos or resorting to violence when faced with repression.
Effective Tactics
- Nonviolent actions can include disruptions like strikes or boycotts.
- Preparations, such as stockpiling resources, are essential for sustaining these actions.
Impact of Participation
- A surprisingly small percentage of the population (3.5%) can lead to successful outcomes, translating to about 11.5 million people in the U.S.
Long-Term Effects
- Nonviolent campaigns lead to more democratic transitions; countries with such movements are ten times more likely to democratize within five years compared to those with violent uprisings.
Case Studies
- South Africa: Economic boycotts during the anti-apartheid movement eventually led to significant political reforms.
- Egypt’s Kefaya Movement: While initially a failure, it laid groundwork for the later successful 2011 uprisings.
- Myanmar’s Saffron Revolution: Brute suppression initially but led to eventual reforms within a few years.
Contemporary Insights
- Current nonviolent movements lack long-term strategies, which is critical for success.
- Most fundamental principles of effective resistance are still applicable today, reflecting strategies from historical movements
What Kinds of Protests Actually Work? | Psychology Today
From May 26 to August 22, 2020, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement organized approximately 7,750 protests nationwide in response to George Floyd’s death and other events. Although the majority of protests were nonviolent, some led to altercations and riots, sparking debates over the efficacy of such strategies. Extreme measures may lead to change, but they can also cause public backlash, according to research. On the other hand, nonviolent demonstrations typically garner more support. This puts activists in a difficult position: while disruptive activities could spur change, they run the risk of offending the public. A third alternative is suggested by a study: nonviolent nonnormative acts, such boycotts and sit-ins, which question norms without using violence and may win support from the general public.
The success of nonviolent civil resistance: Erica Chenoweth at TEDxBoulder – YouTube
Recent research led by Erica Chenoweth highlights that nonviolent civil resistance is significantly more effective in achieving profound societal and political changes compared to violent campaigns. Initially a proponent of armed resistance, Chenoweth’s perspective shifted as she and her collaborator Maria J. Stephan systematically studied campaigns from 1900 to 2006 that resulted in the overthrow of governments. Analyzing 323 mass actions and nearly 160 variables, they discovered that nonviolent movements generally attracted broader participation due to lower barriers compared to violence.
Chenoweth identifies four critical elements for successful nonviolent campaigns:
- Sustained and diverse participation.
- Eliciting loyalty shifts among security forces and key elites that uphold the status quo.
- Employing varied methods of resistance beyond mere protests.
- Maintaining composure and avoiding chaos or militarization in the face of repression, which can undermine the movement and play into the regime’s tactics.
Chenoweth’s findings challenge longstanding beliefs on the efficacy of violence in resistance, presenting a compelling case for nonviolence as a strategic choice for change.
