Nonviolent action? Let me count the ways...

Nonviolent action has been the tools of NGOs, freedom fighters and individuals seeking political and social change without bloodshed for centuries. Advocates of nonviolent resistance include Martin Luther King, Mahatma Ghandi and Nelson Mandela, and modern examples are for instance the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the "velvet revolution" in Iran and the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

The last examples have by many been attributed to the writings of the American Harvard Professor and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Gene Sharp who in 1973 published the hugely influential book “The Politics of Nonviolent Action”. His idea is that no ruler can rule a people who refuse to obey, that any ruler is only as strong as his subjects’ obedience to his orders. Ultimately the power of any state derives from the subjects of the state.

Gene Sharp

Included in this work, and in his consequent publications (including the widely distributed and translated work “From Dictatorship to Democracy”, the “guidebook” to nonviolent revolution) is a list of 198 different methods of nonviolent action, ranging from the use of colours to the importance of public assemblies (like the orange in Ukraine and the Tahrir Square in Cairo).

As the list was written back in the 70s, naturally it does not take into account new inventions and developments like the internet and social media, which turned out to be an important part in uprisings such as the one in Egypt). It would be really interesting, especially to those working in NGO PR, to see what tactics could be added to the already extensive list of tools, whether you’re trying to topple a dictator or fight things like racism or social inequality on a smaller scale.

Any suggestions on what should go on such a list?