Creator1

Revolution is a scary word, usually with other connotations of starvation, supply chain failure, death, chaos. Ultimately, for most, this is the closest they’d like to come to a dystopia. The truth is, while there are violent revolutions and protests, the majority are not. In fact, nonviolent revolutions often have a much higher success rate for beginning change than a bloody one, almost three times as likely to succeed.

The overall benefit of nonviolent resistance to tyranny is underscored by what James Madison (the author of the Constitution) can teach us. Having dealt with an oppressive government he noticed that government overreach, especially those that violate your liberties, often happen in conjunction with some unfortunate (or fortunate) accident or emergency. The worse the catastrophe, the more likely the overreach will be. Tyrannical or authoritarian governments will see a violent resistance as justification for firmer stranglehold on citizen’s liberties and freedoms. Most oppressive regimes are given most of their power, slowly. Violence will give credence to the claims for an increase military presence, secrecy, and division amongst populations. A perfect case of this is the enactment of the PATRIOT ACT after 9/11 where American’s, traumatized by the twin towers attack willingly allowed intelligence communities wiretap American’s phone conversations without a warrant (although there are many other liberties violated by this act that we take for granted now).

Analysis aside, let me lift the would be dissenter’s spirits by sharing recent success for nonviolent protest. Keep in mind, this is not all inclusive and is a very brief summary of these. These are much more complex and organized movements than they will be described here:

The Revolution of Smiles, Algeria 2019-2020. This was a great movement of nonparticipation, striking, and unity. Students boycotted classes and marched and demonstrated, there was a general labor strike, woman began a ‘feminism square’ in order to secure more equal rights. The transportation workers sympathized with the woman and students and joined the general strike. This led to a complete collapse of all transportation services in the country. Lastly, there as a collective, massive, vocal boycott of the presidential elections. This resulted in their president withdrawing his bid for an unprecedented fifth term, ousting the 82 year old president!

“What is a rebellious man? A man who says no. But if he refuses, he does not give up: he is also a man who says yes, from his first movement.’ -Albert Camus (famous French-Algerian philosopher)

The Anti-extradition and Pro-autonomy campaign in Hong Kong 2019-2020: While this began to get tense, with Chinese military actions beginning in Hong Kong/ Students still responded in nonviolent resistance even to military action. The did things like cemented bricks to the road in a strewn manner to prevent vehicles from easily and safely making gains on protesters. This demonstration included rallies, mass occupation on public spaces such as schools, parks, etc. A general labor strike, with a focus on the Hong Kong international Airport began, the strikers formed a 50 KM long human chain in protest, dubbed the Hong Kong Way. This culminated in election organization that led to a landslide victory for a pro- democracy council and record high voter turnout.

Velvet Revolution, Armenia, 2018. I wanted to highlight this one because this is a perfect example of a military force siding with the oppressed and providing a mechanism to safely enable nonviolent change. Often times, it is seen that the military and the tyrant work closely to oppress and maintain power. Again, I return to James Madison who stated, ‘A standing military force, with an overgrown executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.’

This began with protest walks that were held in various towns and cities throughout the whole country. There were sit-in protests in the main square in the capital. Once the movement gained popularity and became a mass protest, the Armed Forces of Armenia joined the protests. They used their firepower to protect protesters, block streets and provided aid to workers during their strike, an incredible movement of unity that was not expected.

I finish this article with this. Dissidents may want to have solace knowing that they are traveling down a road that has been traveled by generations in the past and will proceed those future revolutionaries. This is a historically proven, effective way to make change.