198 Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion

198 Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion

Formal Statements

1. Public Speeches2. Letters of opposition or support3. Declarations by organizations and institutions4. Signed public statements5. Declarations of indictment and intention6. Group or mass petitions
Communications with a Wider Audience

7. Slogans, caricatures, and symbols8. Banners, posters, and displayed communications9. Leaflets, pamphlets, and books10. Newspapers and journals11. Records, radio, and television12. Skywriting and earthwriting
Group Representations

13. Deputations14. Mock awards15. Group lobbying16. Picketing17. Mock elections
Symbolic Public Acts

18. Displays of flags and symbolic colors19. Wearing of symbols20. Prayer and worship21. Delivering symbolic objects22. Protest disrobings23. Destruction of own property24. Symbolic lights25. Displays of portraits26. Paint as protest27. New signs and names28. Symbolic sounds29. Symbolic reclamations30. Rude gestures
Pressures on Individuals

31. "Haunting" officials32. Taunting officials33. Fraternization34. Vigils
Drama and Music

35. Humorous skits and pranks36. Performances of plays and music37.

SingingmProcessions

38. Marches39. Parades40. Religious processions41. Pilgrimages42. Motorcades
Honoring the Dead

43. Political mourning44. Mock funerals45. Demonstrative funerals46. Homage at burial places
Public Assemblies

47. Assemblies of protest or support48. Protest meetings49. Camouflaged meetings of protest50. Teach-ins

Withdrawal and Renunciation

51. Walk-outs52. Silence53. Renouncing honors54. Turning one’s back
The Methods of Social Noncooperation

Ostracism of Persons

55. Social boycott56. Selective social boycott57. Lysistratic nonaction58. Excommunication59. Interdict

Noncooperation with Social Events, Customs, and Institutions

60. Suspension of social and sports activities61. Boycott of social affairs62. Student strike 63. Social disobedience

64. Withdrawal from social institutions
Withdrawal from the Social System

65. Stay-at-home66. Total personal noncooperation67. "Flight" of workers68. Sanctuary69. Collective disappearance70. Protest emigration (hijrat)
The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: Economic Boycotts
Actions by Consumers71. Consumers’ boycott72. Nonconsumption of boycotted goods73. Policy of austerity74. Rent withholding75. Refusal to rent76. National consumers’ boycott77. International consumers’ boycott
Action by Workers and Producers

78. Workmen’s boycott79. Producers’ boycott
Action by Middlemen

80. Suppliers’ and handlers’ boycott
Action by Owners and Management

81. Traders’ boycott82. Refusal to let or sell property83. Lockout84. Refusal of industrial assistance85. Merchants’ "general strike"
Action by Holders of Financial Resources

86. Withdrawal of bank deposits87. Refusal to pay fees, dues, and assessments88. Refusal to pay debts or interest89. Severance of funds and credit90. Revenue refusal91. Refusal of a government’s money
Action by Governments

92. Domestic embargo93. Blacklisting of traders94. International sellers’ embargo95. International buyers’ embargo96. International trade embargo
The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: The Strike
Symbolic Strikes

97. Protest strike98. Quickie walkout (lightning strike)
Agricultural Strikes

99. Peasant strike100. Farm Workers’ strike
Strikes by Special Groups

101. Refusal of impressed labor102. Prisoners’ strike103. Craft strike104. Professional strike
Ordinary Industrial Strikes105. Establishment strike106. Industry strike107. Sympathetic strike
Restricted Strikes

108. Detailed strike109. Bumper strike110. Slowdown strike111. Working-to-rule strike112. Reporting "sick" (sick-in)113. Strike by resignation114. Limited strike115.

Selective strike

Multi-Industry Strikes

116. Generalized strike117. General strike
Combination of Strikes and Economic Closures

118. Hartal119. Economic shutdown

The Methods of Political Noncooperation

Rejection of Authority

120. Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance121. Refusal of public support122. Literature and speeches advocating resistance
Citizens’ Noncooperation with Government

123. Boycott of legislative bodies124. Boycott of elections125. Boycott of government employment and positions126. Boycott of government departments, agencies, and other bodies127. Withdrawal from government educational institutions128. Boycott of government-supported organizations129. Refusal of assistance to enforcement agents130. Removal of own signs and placemarks131. Refusal to accept appointed officials132. Refusal to dissolve existing institutions
Citizens’ Alternatives to Obedience

133. Reluctant and slow compliance134. Nonobedience in absence of direct supervision135. Popular nonobedience136. Disguised disobedience137. Refusal of an assemblage or meeting to disperse138. Sitdown139. Noncooperation with conscription and deportation140. Hiding, escape, and false identities141. Civil disobedience of "illegitimate" laws
Action by Government Personnel

142. Selective refusal of assistance by government aides143. Blocking of lines of command and information144. Stalling and obstruction145. General administrative noncooperation146. Judicial noncooperation147. Deliberate inefficiency and selective noncooperation by enforcement agents148. Mutiny
Domestic Governmental Action

149. Quasi-legal evasions and delays150. Noncooperation by constituent governmental units
International Governmental Action

151. Changes in diplomatic and other representations152. Delay and cancellation of diplomatic events153. Withholding of diplomatic recognition154. Severance of diplomatic relations155. Withdrawal from international organizations156. Refusal of membership in international bodies157. Expulsion from international organizations

The Methods of Nonviolent Intervention
Psychological Intervention

158. Self-exposure to the elements159. The fasta) Fast of moral pressureb) Hunger strikec) Satyagrahic fast160. Reverse trial161. Nonviolent harassment
Physical Intervention

162. Sit-in163. Stand-in164. Ride-in165. Wade-in166. Mill-in167. Pray-in168. Nonviolent raids169. Nonviolent air raids170. Nonviolent invasion171. Nonviolent interjection172. Nonviolent obstruction173. Nonviolent occupation
Social Intervention

174. Establishing new social patterns175. Overloading of facilities176. Stall-in177. Speak-in178. Guerrilla theater179. Alternative social institutions180. Alternative communication system
Economic Intervention

181. Reverse strike182. Stay-in strike183. Nonviolent land seizure184. Defiance of blockades185. Politically motivated counterfeiting186. Preclusive purchasing187. Seizure of assets188. Dumping189. Selective patronage190. Alternative markets191. Alternative transportation systems192. Alternative economic institutions
Political Intervention

193. Overloading of administrative systems194. Disclosing identities of secret agents195. Seeking imprisonment196. Civil disobedience of "neutral" laws197. Work-on without collaboration198. Dual sovereignty and parallel government

Source: Sharp, Gene. The Politics of Nonviolent Action (3 Vols.), Boston: Porter Sargent, 1973. Provided courtesy of the Albert Einstein Institution.