Notes on Nonviolence 3 Types of Violence 3 Forms of Power 3 Kinds of Nonviolent Strategies 2 Approaches to Power Cycle/ Spiral of Violence

3 Types of Violence: Direct violence - refers to physical acts of violence Structural violence – the violence built into the very social, political and economic systems that govern societies, states and the world (like an iceberg, this is the 90% hidden from view; we only see the 10%). Cultural violence – includes those aspects of culture that legitimize violence and make violence seem like an acceptable means of responding to conflict (often supports of sense of superiority over others; e.g. racism, sexism, nationalism).

3 Forms of Power Power-over – sees humans and the world as objects, made up of separated, isolated parts; no inherent worth; motivation = fear HAVES HAVE – NOTS Power-from-within – sees humans and the world as living beings, dynamic, integrated; individualistic, artistic; motivation = creativity, empowerment

3. Power-with – bridges the value systems of power-over and power-from-within. Sees the world as a pattern of relationships, but its interest is in how that pattern can be shaped, molded, shifted. Values all beings and persons; motivation = respect for and equality of all HAVES HAVE-NOTS

Nonviolent Strategy 3 Kinds

Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion With actions we name what we think is wrong, point our fingers at it and try to help others understand. This category includes tactics as petitioning, picketing, demonstrating and lobbying.

Nonviolent Non-Cooperation With these actions we deliberately fold our hands and turn our backs, refusing to participate in the wrong we have named. This category includes tactics as boycotts (like the grape boycott of the United Farm Workers), strikes and tax resistance.

Nonviolent Intervention With these actions we face the wrong we have named, the wrong we have refused to aid and step into the way by interfering with, blocking the unjust action. This category includes blockades, civil disobedience and sit-ins.

Two Approaches to Social and Political Power The Pyramid Power Model The People Power Model

The Pyramid Power Model ( = Power over) Holds that society is organized in the form of a hierarchical pyramid, with powerful elites (power-holders) at the top and the powerless masses at at the bottom. The power flows from top to bottom. Social change can only be achieved by appealing to, persuading the elites to change their view.

The People Power Model ( = Power with) Holds that power ultimately rests in the hands of the mass public. The power-holders’ power is dependent on the mass public’s cooperation. The triangle is turned upside down, with the people at the top and the power elite at the bottom. The people movement strategy creates change by “leading the leaders.”

From: http://www.communitycurrency.org/plenary.html

Social change is rooted in People Power. This is different from counter-violence (in the form of a violent revolution). People Power is nonviolent (in the form of a social movement, that educates, challenges and persuades).

Nonviolence and People Power Active nonviolence is the ideal use of people power because It is based upon timeless, universal principles such as equality, democracy and love. It is less threatening than violence. It allows everyone (people in the streets vs. police force) to participate. It unifies, does not divide, people through empowerment of all.

Dyads Brainstorm: Identify a social institution that demonstrates some form of injustice with the power-holders at the top. (Can be government, entertainment industry, corporations.) Explain how its power structure resembles the pyramid. Explain how this power structure would work if it were inverted, with People on top.

The Cycle/ Spiral of Violence Can be seen both in domestic partnerships and in social systems Each kind of cycle has a pattern of dominance: In domestic partnerships, it appears as a cycle In social systems, it appears as a spiral Both kinds will continue unless broken, or interrupted intentionally

http://www. chetna-dfw http://www.chetna-dfw.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/cycle-of-violence_pdf

Who breaks the cycle? How? Dyads: Try to answer this question for both domestic partnerships and for social systems. Think of an example for a social system trapped in the spiral of violence and imagine a strategy, using nonviolent conflict resolution, to break the spiral.

Active Nonviolence Is the only force powerful enough to break the cycle of structural violence