Civil Resistance

It was Malcolm X who said, “By any means necessary” when discussing the measures that needed to be enacted in order to bring change. However, determining which means are effective in bringing about change is crucial to the success of a movement. The evident reality is that peaceful acts of civil resistance have overall been much more successful than those that have been fueled by violence. A 2-year study conducted by political scientist, Erica Chenoweth, reveals just that. The study showed that:
From 1900 to 2006, nonviolent campaigns worldwide were twice as likely to succeed outright as violent insurgencies… [In fact,] this trend has been increasing over time, so that in the last 50 years, nonviolent campaigns are becoming increasingly

The provision of “safety in numbers” is enacted through the visibility of the tactics used through civil resistance, such as protests, which attract risk-averse people into the fray. Chenoweth reports that:
...visibility of civil resistance action allows them to attract more active and diverse participation from these ambivalent people, and once they become involved, it’s almost guaranteed that the movement will then have links to security forces, civilian bureaucrats, economic and business elites, state media, religious authorities, and the like, and those people start to re-evaluate their own allegiances. (Chenoweth)
In simpler terms, civil resistance often develops from being seen as unfamiliar to growing to such an extent that people begin to understand the true purpose and goals of the movement. This is when the protest is most effective, because people then begin to come together as a community to advocate for this

The follow-up argument often consists of statements regarding how because of this blatant disrespect, no true change or influence could stem from these demonstrations of civil resistance. However, protesting and advocating for the change and improvement of one’s nations branches off of the main basis of patriotism. Rather than conforming to the unjust and unequal systems set in place, those who participate in social movements and acts of civil disobedience are the group of people who most strive for the advancement and improvement of their nation. The influence these individuals have in regards to the progression of their nation shows that their resistance to injustice is not tied to disrespect or opposition to patriotism, but rather hope for the growth of one’s