nonviolent resistance

Passive defiance method

Nonviolent resistance is opposition to authority or injustice through peaceful means—protests, strikes, civil disobedience, boycotts—rather than armed struggle.

The strategy aims to expose injustice and win public sympathy while denying opponents a violent adversary.

Gandhi's independence movement and the American civil rights movement are defining examples: They trained activists in nonviolent resistance before the sit-ins.

methods

civil disobedience

Peaceful refusal to obey

satyagrahaNonviolent resistance philosophy
sit-inProtest by remaining seated
boycottOrganized economic protest

hunger strike · fasting · march · vigil · blockade · human chain · occupation · picketing · noncooperation · work stoppage

principles

pacifism

Antiwar moral stance

ahimsaHindu principle of harmlessness
moral authorityInfluence from perceived righteousness
conscienceInternal moral sense

dignity · solidarity · justice · equality · reconciliation · compassion · self-sacrifice · discipline · love · beloved community

figures

Gandhi

Indian independence leader

Cesar Chavez · Desmond Tutu · John Lewis · Henry David Thoreau · Leo Tolstoy

movements

civil rights movement

Organized effort against discrimination

Salt MarchIndian independence protest
Montgomery bus boycott1955 Alabama transit protest
suffragettesFemale voting-rights activists

Velvet Revolution · Solidarity · Arab Spring · anti-apartheid · Tiananmen Square · Singing Revolution · People Power · abolitionism · women's suffrage · labor movement

tactics

demonstration

Public display of opinion

rallyGathering for a cause
petitionFormal written appeal
placardNotice on a board

chant · slogan · assembly · candlelight vigil · protest camp · strike · walkout · teach-in · public prayer · symbolic action

strategy

organizing

Systematically putting in order

mobilizationOrganizing for action
coalition buildingCreating partnerships among groups
trainingDeveloping abilities through practice

escalation · negotiation · dialogue · public awareness · media coverage · documentation · legal challenge · lobbying · grassroots · persistence

Categories

resistancedefiance, dissidence, opposition, pushback, civil disobedience
social movementscivil rights movement, women's liberation, labor movement, feminist movement, suffrage movement
civil rightsequal protection, equal rights, Civil Rights Act, right to life, Voting Rights Act
civic actioncivic engagement, community organizing, grassroots organizing, grassroots movement, volunteering
Faith Activismsocial gospel, interfaith dialogue, Christian socialism, sanctuary movement, abolitionism
nonviolencepacifism, harmlessness, peaceful, ahimsa, non-aggression

Opposites

method of opposition

nonviolent resistancearmed rebellion

Violent resistance to authority

armed struggle · guerrilla warfare · terrorism · armed insurrection · military coup

political stance toward power

nonviolent resistancecompliance

Adhering to requirements

submission · acquiescence · conformity · obedience · collaboration

tactical philosophy

nonviolent resistanceby any means necessary

jihad · holy war

Family

resist, violent, resistance, resistant, resisting, nonviolent, resists, nonviolence, nondairy

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G