I have often quoted Gene Sharp’s little book from ‘Dictatorship
to Democracy’ when talking about the importance of peaceful protests pointing
out how violent protests play to a government’s strengths.
So, the other day I when I came across a combined precis of
three other books he wrote, called ‘How non-violent Struggle works’ I
was keen to read it and have now had the chance to condense it down to this
summary of around 800 words. This book has definitely helped confirm my view
that peaceful protests are the only realistic way forward to achieve the
reforms and changes we need to our governance.
This short book of around 100 pages starts by pointing out
that there are not only two alternatives to protest, namely, ‘Passive
Submission’ or ‘Violent Reaction’ but a third ‘Non-Violent Protest’- NVAs.
The other key issues are covered in around half a dozen
chapters which I summaries below in a number of bullet points comment with key
issues highlighted in red.
First it is important to understand:
‘THE
EXERCISE OF POWER DEPENDS ON THE CONSENT OF THE RULED WHO, BY WITHDRAWING THAT
CONSENT CAN CONTROL OR EVEN DESTROY THE POWER OF THEIR OPPONENTS.’
·
The politics of NVAs can require up to 15 years
to succeed.
·
NVAs are performed by ordinary people not
pacifists or saints.
·
They work – consider most successful union wage
disputes.
·
Governments will always try to suppress NVAs.
While central power sees people as dependant upon goodwill
decisions of the government, governments are also very dependant on the
people’s goodwill.
‘OBEDIENCE IS AT THE HEART OF POLITICAL POWER’.
While people generally do obey, obedience is not automatic
as all governments are based on consent.
·
NVAs must not be half-hearted to win.
·
They need discipline, control, intelligence,
good timing and the right strategy and tactics as with any military
action/campaign.
·
Refusing consent requires the protestors to
have self-confidence, motivation and involves inconvenience and suffering.
·
Success comes from maintaining non-cooperation
despite repression.
‘FREEDOM DOES NOT COME FOR FREE’
There are numerous methods of NVAs to consider and adopt
from economic, social and political actions employed via three ‘weapons’ –
Protest and Persuasion, Non-cooperation and Non-Violent intervention. Choosing
the right tactics for the methods used is very important.
·
Success is accelerated once institutions join
the struggle.
·
NVA is fluid not static and involves risks –
cowardice does not mix with success.
·
Success comes from spreading knowledge widely.
·
Don’t launch a struggle on general objectives
like ‘World Peace’ be specific. (THA’s six demands!)
·
Focus on
the opponent’s weaknesses - limited victories are better than no victories –
quality is better than quantity.
‘RESORTS TO VIOLENCE BRINGS DEFEAT’
·
Publicise all campaign developments.
·
Whether one or several groups involved coordination
is vital and openness helps the cause.
·
Maintain the moral high ground – attack ‘evil’
government actions.
·
Give notice of NVAs to avoid government over reaction.
·
Timings - don’t start before the people are
ready. (which I believe they are not yet in the UK!)
·
Vary tactics, concentrate on success and drop
those that are unsuccessful.
Avoid giving ultimatums to governments and it is better to
act against an order than a prohibited area and the more successful the NVAs
the greater the risk of government retaliation and repression including
confiscation, economic sanctions, bans, arrests and even imprisonment.
·
Be aware of government propaganda used to
weaken the resistance.
‘PERSISTENCE IS
VITAL AS THE WORSE GOVERNMENT REPRESSION COMES BEFORE THEIR CAPITULATION’
·
Maintain moral by explaining the aims.
·
Success is more likely without hate.
·
Disperse leadership into independent cells.
·
NVAs benefit from government overreaction so don’t
resort to violence which will draw more support from home, the people in
government and from abroad.
The four ways to achieve success against a government
include – Conversion, General Accommodation without total acceptance,
non-violent coercion as the government sees the writing on the wall and
disintegration as the government falls apart.
‘DEFEAT COMES FROM GIVING UP’
·
Of the 198 methods and techniques listed 61 are
directly economic.
·
A partial win is better than no win.
·
Don’t be over confident in success.
‘A REDISTRIBUTION OF POWER BROUGHT ABOUT BY NVAs
MAKES LASTING CHANGES TO SOCIETY.’
·
NVAs strengthened People as they end submission,
lose their fear and make a stand.
·
During the campaign people gain an increased in
self-esteem, enthusiasm and hope.
·
NVAs reduces anti-social behaviour.
·
Increases group unity and cooperation as the
benefits achieved spread.
“A FREE SOCIETY NEEDS STRONG SOCIAL GROUPS AND
INSTITUTIONS CAPABLE OF INDEPENDENT ACTION AND ABLE TO WIELD POWER IN THEIR OWN
RIGHT.” (THA’s six demands)
·
Violent revolutions often end up with a greater
centralisation of government power.
·
NVAs usually leads to decentralising of power
and improved democracy.
·
A plan is needed to maintain the gains. (THAs
six demands)
‘A PLAN IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE GAINS WON AND
TO AVOID A RETURN TO THE OLD WAYS’
Finally, this is where THA’s six demands really
come into the equation as they set a template to follow with the reforms to our
governance giving us lasting improvements to our democracy in line with the
original meaning of the word – ‘demos’ meaning people and ‘kratos’ meaning power
– for without real effective ‘People Power’ you have Democracy in name only.