Nonviolent Resistance And Nonviolent Action - 2197 Words

Throughout decades there have been many revolutions and protest against tyrants, dictatorships, unjust governments, and unjust laws. These movements strived to change policies, secure concessions, defeat repressive regimes, instill justice and equality—bring about a social change. The success of many of these revolutions was not due to the use of arms and weaponry or physical violence, instead, it was due to the strategic use of nonviolent action. Notable revolutions such as the Civil Rights Movement, Apartheid, and the Dandi Satyagraha (The Salt March) employed a variety of nonviolent tactics that amassed many supporters and ultimately achieved their goals. Thus, it is logical enough to say that nonviolent resistance is effective and has the ability to force a social change. In fact, nonviolent action is a far better method for social change than violent works. To begin with, Gene Sharp, an expert on Peace Studies and Nonviolent Resistance, defines nonviolent action as, †Å"methods of protest, noncooperation, and intervention in which the actionists, without employing physical violence, refuse to do certain things which they are expected, or required to do; or do certain things which they are not expected, or are forbidden to do.† In other words, it is a way of opposition or the practice of achieving goals without the use of violence. Nonviolent action encompasses a large arrays of phenomena: nonviolent resistance, satyagraha, passive resistance, symbolic protests, economicShow MoreRelatedDr. Martin Luther King1246 Words   |  5 Pagespowerful speaking skills combined with his courageous actions on behalf of racial justice, makes him a compelling exemplar of philosophical advocacy in action. Dr. King is widely regarded as America s pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was cognizance of the interrelatedness of the society mostly the Black Christian society. K ing s method of nonviolent direct action worked slowly and involved great struggle. MartinRead MoreCivil Disobedience, By Henry David Thoreau1650 Words   |  7 Pagesmedia against a president they cannot accept. Nonviolent resistance has, in many ways, defined the resistance to authoritarian governments and decisions in the past century or so. But is it the most effective way to defeat authoritarian governments? Doesn’t defeating a truly authoritarian government -- a government led by a ruthless leader like Hitler -- require violence? Is using nonviolent resistance actually a way to acquiesce to the controlling powers, a way to show weakness? In his 1849Read MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Letter From Birmingham Jail812 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica. The Civil Rights Movement was under way. African Americans were fighting for their basic human rights. One of the most notable figures of the Civil Rights Movement was Martin Luther King Jr. He fought for African American’s rights using nonviolent resistance; however, during a protest in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. King was thrown into jail. While in his jail cell, Dr. King wrote a letter to clergymen from the Birmingham jail claiming his stance on peaceful confrontation on defending African American’sRead MoreMartin Luther King Rhetorical Analysis1260 Words   |  6 Pagespeople thought about their actions, the actions of others, and that of the government were challenged and reexamined, which was necessary in order to achieve true equality. As a theologian, King was committed to peace and slowly began to understand the meaning and power behind nonviolent resistance - a concept he was first exposed to at college when reading Henry David Thoreau’s Essay on Civil Disobedience. During 1955-1956, King enacted this philosophy of nonviolent resistance through his involvementRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement Essay1624 Words   |  7 Pagesdomestic conflict outside of the interwar period. Schmitt’s theory assists in understanding the racial segregation in the United States as political. However, while King identified similar critiques of liberalism as Schmitt, he believed that nonviolent direct action was an effective, politically engaged method which sought to obtain equal civil rights for African Americans as opposed to usurping power from the state. While not inherently political, Schmitt argues that societal realms such as economicRead MoreThe Use Of Nonviolent Resistance By Martin Luther King Jr.1562 Words   |  7 Pagesdrawbacks benefits, and the circumstances in which they may or may not be justified. The first technique people can use is nonviolent resistance. There are various of reasons why some people may argue nonviolent resistance is indeed very effective and stronger and more powerful than violent resistance. To begin with, it calls out attention. When one does a nonviolent resistance, it has a very powerful meaning because the people can peacefully challenge their opponent by addressing the social problemRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie Iron Jawed Angels By Martin Luther King Jr930 Words   |  4 Pagesthree ways to deal with oppression. Dr. King believed the best defense against oppression being that of nonviolent resistance. The film Iron Jawed Angels (IJA) is also great example of oppression with the struggle to women rights in the United States. Mr. King stated that there are three ways of oppression that oppressed people deal with, acquiescence, physical violence, and nonviolent resistance. One must come out of their comfort zone in order to see new and in most cases better outcomes. Mr. KingRead MoreThe Philosophy Of A King Martin Luther King Jr.1305 Words   |  6 Pagespeaceful protest. In his writing â€Å"Nonviolence and Racial Justice†, King clearly explains his methods of Nonviolent resistance. First, King says that nonviolent actions are not the actions of a coward. Nonviolent resisters of evil are not physically aggressive, but they keep their minds and emotions active by revealing to the oppressor their wrongdoings. Second, King believes that the nonviolent goals is to win friendship and understanding, not hate or humiliation; that violence creates bitternessRead MoreWar Causes Pain And Distress1242 Words   |  5 PagesGene Sharp’s understanding of the techniques of nonviolent actions is the most effective solution. He touches bases on three non-violence methods of actions that can be approached in his reading done in 1968. Gene Sharp was a t heorist of non-violent actions. None violent actions lead to change in many situations whether people are being discriminated against or just want change. Gene Sharp teaches three class methods of non-violent actions; nonviolent protest, non-violent cooperation, and non-violentRead MoreThe Civil Rights Movement : Martin Luther King Jr.1305 Words   |  6 Pagesin Birmingham City Jail due to nonviolent resistance participation which was unapproved by a group of white clergymen. In this letter, King addresses these clergymen’s critics about the demonstrations being unwise and untimely, and saying that the participants of such were outsiders coming in. King points out how whites are disturbed by the demonstrations, yet the reason these demonstrations have arisen don’t seem to concern them. They may ask why direct-action must be used, or why do marches