Stellan Vinthagen
A Brief Introduction to Nonviolent Action:
- Nonviolent action seeks to mobilize people at the grassroots level in such a way as to affect the government.
- The assumption is that grassroots civil disobedience can make a significant difference in a conflict and that power is bestowed upon a government from below.
- Unfortunately, there has been little theoretical development of the concept of nonviolent action.
- The use of nonviolent action is also limited. However, there are at least 30 examples of successful nonviolent action aimed at changing or removing a government and/or government policies.
- Two of the most commonly cited examples of successful nonviolent action are the US civil rights movement and nonviolent action organized by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in order to achieve Indian indepedence from Great Britain.
- Successful nonviolent action requires training.
o Many training techniques were developed in the US during the civil rights movement.
o The idea behind training is to find new options, techniques, and ways of acting during a conflict.
- Theory vs. Reality
o Theory is discussed extensively in university courses but, unfortunately, these same courses rarely address reality.
o We need to build a bridge between theory and reality.
o We need to develop body memory to remember the theory and use it in reality.
- Bourdieu
o Bourdieu discusses the imporatance of practical knowledge.
o You cannot perform without practice.
- Conclusion: The CIA trains; militaries and police forces train; terrorist organizations train; why shouldn't you?
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