1. Strategies Of resistance data project
Kathleen Gallagher Cunningham, University of Maryland
Marianne Dahl, PRIO
Anne Frugé, PRR

2. Expanding data on nonviolence
Misconception of “separatist” or “self-determination” politics as very violent
A major cause of civil war
Mass nonviolence is uncommon
But…small scale nonviolence is very common in these disputes

3. Data on Nonviolent Strategies
All organizations in SD movements (1,124 organizations)
Use of violent and nonviolent tactics for over 12,000 organization-years
Rich variation
Variety of tactics
Switch among types of nonviolence
Switch between violent and nonviolent
Mix violent and nonviolent at the same time

4. Violent & Nonviolent Behavior
Organizations use much more nonviolence than violence. Movements even more so. 80% movements use nonviolence, only about 60% use violence.

5. Diversity of NV Strategies
Economic noncooperation: strikes, tax refusals, consumer boycotts
Protest and demonstration: rallies, protests, demonstrations
Nonviolent Intervention: sit-ins, occupations, blockades
Social noncooperation: hunger strikes, self-immolation
Political noncooperation: election boycotts, withdrawals from political office or coalition in the government

6. SRDP Activity & NAVCO Campaigns
During Nonviolent Campaign
During Violent Campaign
No NAVCO Campaign
Total number of observations
SRDP orgs using
nonviolent tactics
63 (42%)
334 (31%)
864 (53%)
1261
SRDP orgs using violent tactics
44 (30%)
530 (49%)
620 (38%)
1194
SRDP orgs using mixed tactics
42 (28%)
228 (21%)
161 (10%)
431
149 (100%)
1,092(100%)
1,645 (100%)
2886

7. Tactical Changes

8. Tactical Changes Change from violence to nonviolent is more common
Violence is not a last resort

9. Applications
Studies of tactical choice
Diffusion of tactics across organizations, movement, time and space
Move beyond selection on actor’s primary strategy (such as rebel groups)
Move beyond focus on major sustained events (nonviolent campaign, civil wars)
Thank you!