People are often quick to resort to violence. The motivation to engage in violence may arise from a desire to punish or seek revenge on people who have harmed others. The motivation to engage in violence may arise from the belief that violence works faster than nonviolence, not thinking about the negative long–term consequences of violence on individuals and communities. The motivation to engage in violence may arise from a fear that nonviolent methods will put oneself at risk of being harmed.
The many motivations for resorting to violence are why the motivation to use nonviolence requires compassion, knowledge, and discipline. Reading a single essay, like this one, cannot adequately prepare a person to practice nonviolence. This essay merely provides some ideas and resources to start learning about nonviolence.
Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote about six principles of nonviolence. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University briefly describes these six principles.
King’s notion of nonviolence had six key principles. First, one can resist evil without resorting to violence. Second, nonviolence seeks to win the “friendship and understanding” of the opponent, not to humiliate him. Third, evil itself, not the people committing evil acts, should be opposed. Fourth, those committed to nonviolence must be willing to suffer without retaliation as suffering itself can be redemptive. Fifth, nonviolent resistance avoids “external physical violence” and “internal violence of spirit” as well: “The nonviolent resister not only refuses to shoot his opponent but he also refuses to hate him.” The resister should be motivated by love in the sense of the Greek word agape, which means “understanding,” or “redeeming good will for all men”. The sixth principle is that the nonviolent resister must have a “deep faith in the future,” stemming from the conviction that “The universe is on the side of justice.”
These six principles illustrate the importance of approaching nonviolence from a compassionate mindset, with the goal of eventually reconciling the entire community following a conflict. The six methods also draw a line at physical or psychological violence. I agree. I mourn the use of violent or forceful methods as a breakdown in human civility, as a source of suffering, and as an obstacle to reconciliation.
Gene Sharp created a list of 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action.2 His list of 198 methods is not exhaustive. People can invent new methods of nonviolence that are not listed in the 198 methods. People have many choices when it comes to using nonviolent methods to protect others and engage in social conflicts.
Below is a sample of Sharp’s 198 methods. I divided the methods into two groups: persuasive methods, and coercive methods.
Persuasive methods aim to stop people from harming others by changing their minds. It educates people about the harm being done. It appeals to people’s sense of ethics, fairness, or desire to not harm others. When persuasion works, people stop harming others because they want to stop their harmful actions. Here are a few examples of persuasive methods.
- Public Speeches
- Marches
- Parades
- Motorcades
- Vigils
- Assemblies
- Teach-ins
- Walk-outs
- Refusing Awards
- Letters of Opposition or Support
- Mass Petitions
- Slogans, Caricatures, and Symbols
- Banners and Posters
- Leaflets, Pamphlets, and Books
- Newspapers, Journals, Blogs, Videos
- Lobbying
- Picketing
- Guerrilla Theater
- Humorous Skits
- Performances of Plays and Music
- Singing
- Homage at Burial Places
- Civil Disobedience of Unfair or Oppressive Laws
Coercive methods may be needed when people stubbornly refuse to stop harming others. Coercive methods create negative experiences and negative circumstances for the people being coerced. People are motivated to stop harming others because they want the negative experiences and negative circumstances to end. Here are a few examples of coercive methods.
- Economic or Social Boycotts
- Economic or Social Girlcotts
- Alternative Markets to Compete with Harmful Markets
- Lawsuits
- Reluctant and Slow Compliance
- Deliberate Inefficiency
- Personal Noncooperation
- Strikes
- Working-to-Rule Strikes
- Severance of Funds or Credit
- Nonviolent Obstruction
- Nonviolent Occupation
- Refusing to Disperse
- Defiance of Blockades
- Refusing to Accept Appointed Officials
- Refusing to Dissolve Organizations or Institutions
- Offering Sanctuary
- Preventing People from Escaping Accountability
Coersive methods are inferior to persuasive methods. People who are persuaded to stop harming others have a change of heart and are not likely to return the harmful actions. People who are coerced to stop harming others may hold a grudge and later return to the harmful actions.
The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict has enhanced Sharp’s 198 method for the digital age. Their digital age methods of nonviolence may be found in a video called Civil Resistance 2.0.
Several handbooks of nonviolence can be found online. These handbooks offer useful tips for practicing nonviolence. I do not agree with everything in these handbooks. However, they are a useful resource for learning about nonviolence.
- Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns, 2nd Edition
- A Guide to Effective Nonviolent Struggle
- Ten Ways to Fight Hate
- ACT UP Civil Disobedience Training
- Nonviolent Resistance in Power Asymmetries
In addition to the free handbooks above, Michale Nagler has written a useful book called The Nonviolence Handbook: A Guide for Practical Action.3
Various colleges, universities, and organizations offer classes on nonviolence. For example, I completed a course on nonviolence offered by the Metta Center for Nonviolence. People are free to choose from a variety of courses offered by other organizations and institutions.
- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. Nonviolence.
- Gene Sharp. 198 Methods of nonviolent action. Published by the Albert Einstein Institution.
- Michael Nagler (2014). The Nonviolence Handbook: A Guide for Practical Action. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.