198 Methods of Nonviolent Action
Practitioners of nonviolent struggle have an entire arsenal of
“nonviolent weapons” at their disposal. Far too often people struggling
for democratic rights and justice are not aware of the full range of
methods of nonviolent action.
Wise strategy, attention to the dynamics of nonviolent struggle, and
careful selection of methods can increase a group’s chances of success.
Gene Sharp researched and cataloged these 198 methods, classified into
three broad categories: nonviolent protest and persuasion,
noncooperation (social, economic, and political), and nonviolent
intervention. Sharp provided a rich selection of historical examples in
his seminal work, The Politics of Nonviolent Action (3 Vols.) (1973).
