Minds of the Movement
An ICNC blog on the people and power of civil resistance
In Europe’s not-so-distant history, as well as presently in Ukraine, ordinary people achieve the extraordinary when their freedom, human dignity, and security are threatened–even beyond the battlefield ecosystem. This blog series shows that there exists a “narrow, dangerous, uncertain but very real path towards a better world”, in the words of French graphic novelist Xavier Dorison. That path is unarmed resistance, widespread in Ukraine since 2022, yet poorly documented and little-understood.
The contributors of the Ukrainian Freedom series include researchers, members of the European defense establishment, and above all, Ukrainian defenders themselves. Their articles are not aspirational; they are not calls for martyrdom. They document and analyze a vast area of human behavior with pragmatism, not ideology.
Unarmed resistance represents an original and constructive facet of national defense, complementary to institutional efforts. Neglecting this topic in European conversations in defense would leave populations underprepared for crisis. At the same time, its national preparation carries potential for enhancing autonomy and sustainability across European defense.
ICNC is pleased to partner with ActionAid Denmark as well as the new, France-based Organization for Nonviolent Movements to produce this timely series. Check back soon for many more articles through March 2026.
