Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

4. Nonviolent methodsSince the mid 20th century the term nonviolence has come to embody a diversity oftechniques to achieve social change without the use of violence. Nonviolent methodsare applied to resist oppression or bring about change. The essence is to seek toliquidate antagonisms but not the antagonists. Non‐violent protests search for a‘win‐win’ solution whenever possible.In nonviolent conflict transformation, the parties to the conflict do not want tomake their opponent suffer; instead the nonviolent actors show their willingness tosuffer in order to bring about change.Methods applied on individual and social levels are various and creativity istypical of nonviolent movements. Some historical examples of nonviolent methodsto challenge unjust structures are: hiding slaves, boycotting taxes (Abolition movementin the US), occupying land (by impoverished rural population against landholders in Latin America), symbolic actions like nonviolent mass protest to highlightinjustice (salt march in India). In Europe and North America nonviolence hasbeen used extensively by the labour, peace, environment and women’s movements.Other methods are e.g.: boycotts, non-cooperation, civil disobedience, mass marches,demonstrations, filling jails, freedom rides, hunger strikes, petitions, sit‐ins, taxrefusal, go slows, blockades, draft refusal or the disruption of public ceremonies 17 .Nonviolence has a great appeal because it removes the illogicality of trying tomake the world a less violent and more just place by using violence as a tool. In otherwords it highlights the illogicality of making war to achieve peace.200 V I . N O N V I O L E N C E