Tibetans, like other liberation struggles with a diaspora component, have one foot in and one foot out. Some movement actors—the diaspora and the government-in-exile—can exert pressure on the occupier from the outside. “That’s our domain, so there is pressure coming from all sides. We [MPs] are all united that we should find ways to restore freedom”, Jigdal explains to my students. On the other hand, the occupied population can exercise pressure on the occupier from the inside—if empowered to do so. […]

“It is like some diplomats only see instability when bombs fall on a presidential palace. But we Sudanese have suffered instability for over 30 years under a dictatorship…”

Last May, I helped organize a round table discussion at the annual SIPRI Forum on Peace and Development in Stockholm, Sweden. At one point, the current war in Sudan came to the fore, suggesting a general misunderstanding about nonviolent movements for rights, justice and freedom among some discussion participants. […]

Le mouvement citoyen La LUCHA a été fondé en 2012 par de jeunes Congolais frustrés par la situation dramatique de leur pays. La LUCHA a poursuivi la résistance non violente pour informer les citoyens et alimenter leur indignation, ainsi que pour rendre les personnes au pouvoir plus responsables et comptables de leurs actes. L’un des outils qu’ils utilisent s’appelle Fatshimétrie, un baromètre permettant d’évaluer le niveau de réalisation des engagements et des promesses faites par le chef de l’État pour transformer la Républic Démocratique du Congo. […]

The citizen movement LUCHA was founded in 2012 by young Congolese frustrated by the dramatic situation in their country. LUCHA pursued nonviolent resistance to inform citizens and fuel their outrage, as well as to hold those in power more responsible and accountable. One of the tools they use is called Fatshimétrie, a barometer for assessing the level of fulfilment of commitments and promises made by the head of state to transform the DRC. […]

რამდენიმე ხნის წინ მეგობრებთან, კოლეგებთან ვსაუბრობდი სამოქალაქო წინააღმდეგობის ისტორიებზე, გამოცდილებებზე და სამწუხაროდ უნდა აღვნიშნოთ, რომ ბევრი ინფორმაცია უბრალოდ იკარგება, იშლება. აქტივისტები არ წერენ საკუთარ გამოცდილებაზე, კამპანიებზე, რაც მომავალი თაობისთვის ცოდნის გადაცემას შეუძლებელს ხდის. […]

Earlier this year, in a meeting with students and colleagues here in Tbilisi, Georgia, we came to a consensus that many important civil resistance stories related to decision-making, specific tactics and defining strategy are frequently lost here. We—activists engaged in movements for democracy, environmental justice, good governance and more—are not writing or documenting enough to create transferable knowledge, so future generations will not know about our country’s civil resistance stories. But with no local resources available to support such “knowledge management” actions, how can we affirm our nonviolent history in the interest of advancing our struggles? […]

Mohsen Sazegara has been a social media influencer since before it became a thing. Having started his YouTube channel in June 2009 to share knowledge and resources on nonviolent action in Farsi, he pre-dates nearly every pioneer of the influencer phenomenon. But Mohsen’s influence has nothing to do with the fashion or fitness industries. The only “brand” he represents is nonviolent revolution for rights, freedom and democracy. […]

En abril y a principios de mayo de este año, un grupo de alrededor de 150 personas recorrieron durante 12 días y noches los caminos del sur-sureste de México, respondiendo a la convocatoria del Congreso Nacional Indígena para organizar la Caravana “El Sur Resiste”. Días y noches calurosos, en regiones donde las temperaturas pueden superar los 40 grados centígrados; caminos hostiles, donde miles de personas han desaparecido sin dejar rastro; horas compartidas con desconocidos, que eventualmente se convirtieron en amigos, todo en respuesta a un llamado […]

Last April and at the beginning of this May, a group of about 150 people spent 12 days and nights traveling the roads of south-southeast of Mexico, responding to the National Indigenous Congress’ call to organize a Caravan called “The South Resists”. Hot days and nights, in regions where temperatures can exceed 40 C degrees (104 F); hostile roads, where thousands of people have disappeared without a trace; hours shared with strangers, who eventually became friends, all in response to a call: it is time to organize ourselves to push back against environmental injustice and protect our lives and livelihoods. […]