Definition

Noun: A form of protest or opposition to a government, law, or policy that deliberately avoids using violence. This method relies on tactics such as refusal to cooperate, fasting, civil disobedience, and other peaceful means to achieve political or social goals.

Usage

This term is used to describe a specific philosophy and strategy of social or political change. It is often associated with historical movements and figures who advocated for peaceful protest. - The activists organized a campaign of nonviolent resistance against the unjust law. - His philosophy was rooted in the principles of nonviolent resistance.

Examples

• The success of the movement demonstrated the power of nonviolent resistance.
• They studied the strategies of nonviolent resistance used during the civil rights era.
• Fasting was her chosen method of nonviolent resistance.

Advanced Usage

• As a strategic concept: The term can describe a comprehensive strategy, not just individual acts.
  • The leader argued that nonviolent resistance was the most morally sound and effective path to liberation.
• In academic discourse: Often discussed in fields like political science, history, and peace studies.
  • The paper analyzes the global impact of nonviolent resistance in the 20th century.

Variants and Related Words

• Civil disobedience: A specific form of nonviolent resistance involving the deliberate breaking of laws considered unjust.
• Passive resistance: An older, near-synonymous term, sometimes implying a more static refusal to comply.
• Satyagraha: A term coined by Mahatma Gandhi, specifically meaning "truth force" or "soul force," which is a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance.

Synonyms

• Peaceful protest
• Civil resistance
• Nonviolent action
• Passive resistance (historical context)

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Direct action: Nonviolent acts that directly confront an issue, such as sit-ins or blockades, often as part of a campaign of nonviolent resistance.
• Conscientious objection: Refusal to perform military service based on moral grounds, which can be an individual act of nonviolent resistance.

Noun

1. peaceful resistance to a government by fasting or refusing to cooperate