Journal Article - Journal of Democracy
The Future of Nonviolent Resistance
Abstract
Over the past fifty years, nonviolent civil resistance has overtaken armed struggle as the most common form of mobilization used by revolutionary movements. Yet even as civil resistance reached a new peak of popularity during the 2010s, its effectiveness had begun to decline—even before the covid-19 pandemic brought mass demonstrations to a temporary halt in early 2020. This essay argues that the decreased success of nonviolent civil resistance was due not only to savvier state responses, but also to changes in the structure and capabilities of civil-resistance movements themselves. Perhaps counterintuitively, the coronavirus pandemic may have helped to address some of these underlying problems by driving movements to turn their focus back to relationship-building, grassroots organizing, strategy, and planning.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via Journal of Democracy.
For more information on this publication:
Please contact
International Security
For Academic Citation:
Chenoweth, Erica. "The Future of Nonviolent Resistance." Journal of Democracy, vol. 31. no. 3. (July 2020): 69–84 .
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Analysis & Opinions
- The Washington Post
Black Lives Matter Beyond America's Big Cities
Analysis & Opinions
- Vox
Media Coverage Has Blown Anti-lockdown Protests Out of Proportion
Analysis & Opinions
- The Guardian
The Global Pandemic Has Spawned New Forms of Activism — and They're Flourishing
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Report
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
NATO at Seventy: An Alliance in Crisis
Journal Article
- Research Policy
The Relationship Between Science and Technology
Abstract
Over the past fifty years, nonviolent civil resistance has overtaken armed struggle as the most common form of mobilization used by revolutionary movements. Yet even as civil resistance reached a new peak of popularity during the 2010s, its effectiveness had begun to decline—even before the covid-19 pandemic brought mass demonstrations to a temporary halt in early 2020. This essay argues that the decreased success of nonviolent civil resistance was due not only to savvier state responses, but also to changes in the structure and capabilities of civil-resistance movements themselves. Perhaps counterintuitively, the coronavirus pandemic may have helped to address some of these underlying problems by driving movements to turn their focus back to relationship-building, grassroots organizing, strategy, and planning.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via Journal of Democracy.Chenoweth, Erica. "The Future of Nonviolent Resistance." Journal of Democracy, vol. 31. no. 3. (July 2020): 69–84 .
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Analysis & Opinions - The Washington Post
Black Lives Matter Beyond America's Big Cities
Analysis & Opinions - Vox
Media Coverage Has Blown Anti-lockdown Protests Out of Proportion
Analysis & Opinions - The Guardian
The Global Pandemic Has Spawned New Forms of Activism — and They're Flourishing
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Report - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
NATO at Seventy: An Alliance in Crisis
Journal Article - Research Policy
The Relationship Between Science and Technology