Does Nonviolent Action Still Work?

Abstract: From Burma to Belarus, one question keeps surfacing: Does nonviolent action still work? The authors argue that the theory hasn’t failed, but rather that the field has fallen behind. Authoritarian regimes have modernized repression while movements have reduced strategic nonviolent struggle to street protest, mistaking visibility for leverage. That gap helps explain why organizers facing lethal repression have turned to arms, even though nonviolent campaigns still outperform violent ones. The authors also challenge how success gets measured: Leader-centric, single-cycle standards obscure real gains. What the field needs now isn’t new doctrine but investment in countering smart repression, rebuilding noncooperation, and sharing lessons across movements.