Check out these amazing organizations that promote nonviolent resistance worldwide through research, resources and training.
by Taylor O’Connor | 12 September 2024
Photo by Shalom de León on Unsplash
“The persons who are at any point the rulers do not personally possess the power of control, administration, and repression that they wield. How much power they possess depends on how much power society will grant them.” – Gene Sharp (nonviolence scholar)
It was the nationwide protests that swept across the US in protest of the invasion of Iraq and the subsequent global war on terror that initially inspired me to work for peace. When I went for my Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies I had a particular interest in nonviolent action and strategies. And there I did my thesis research on the Saffron Revolution in Burma/Myanmar which had just earlier been crushed by the military junta.
I traveled to Malaysia and Thailand to interview monks who had fled the country after the crack down to discuss how this nonviolent revolution was led and organized. I was curious to learn about how Buddhist philosophy and teachings had been applied to this nonviolent movement, and what the monks thought about it after the movement had been brutally crushed.
Though I went on to work for over a decade since then in the broader field of peacebuilding, nonviolent strategy and tactics have always intrigued me. I think that the study of nonviolent resistance, strategy and tactics has a lot to teach we who are involved in peacebuilding efforts worldwide.
So I spent some time researching and documenting organizations that use nonviolence worldwide. There are hundreds, way more than I can include in one blog post, so in line with my interest in understanding how nonviolence is used in practice I have organized and categorized them. They will come out in a series of blog posts. This one is the first, and it is focused explicitly on organizations that study and promote nonviolent strategy and tactics, and that support nonviolent resistance worldwide.
Use this blog post as a resource to find resources and ideas that you can integrate in your nonviolence and peace efforts. Whether you are an activist, researcher, teacher or otherwise, the organizations in this blog post offer a wealth of resources to support you.
Lessons learned about nonviolent resistance organizations
In researching about organizations that promote nonviolent resistance worldwide I learned a lot about what nonviolence organizations and nonviolent movements. I have made a distinction in this blog post between organizations that are explicitly dedicated to the study and promotion of nonviolence with peace activist organizations.
Nonviolence organizations mapped in this blog post focus on the study and promotion of nonviolent resistance. They research and document nonviolent movements around the world and throughout history. They train activists in nonviolent tactics and strategy. They support nonviolent movements worldwide. They promote the use of nonviolent tactics and strategies to bring down dictators, fight for social justice, promote democracy, and end war, but aren’t specifically about peace and war.
The peace activist organizations on the other hand use nonviolent approaches to stop war, challenge the arms trade, and promote demilitarization. They take a wide array of nonviolent strategies to dismantle the war system, but aren’t necessarily nonviolence experts. There is some overlap between these two, but what I have found in my research is that they are quite distinct.
I’ll write other blog posts on peace activism, pacifism, demilitarization, third-party nonviolent intervention, and other associated topics soon, and when I do I’ll link them here. For now, this one is focused on organizations explicitly promoting nonviolent resistance.
Organizations promoting nonviolent resistance
Below are ten organizations promoting nonviolent resistance worldwide. I have included links to each and short descriptions of their key activities. Most offer resources and trainings on nonviolent strategy and tactics. Some provide technical support to nonviolent movements worldwide. Some conduct research and publish resources.
This blog post is specifically mapping organizations that promote nonviolent resistance worldwide. Many organizations use nonviolent approaches or tactics, but few are specialized in the study of and promotion of nonviolent resistance. I will provide other blog posts on other topics like peace activism, pacifism, conscientious objectors, and others who use nonviolent approaches, but for this blog I have included only those organizations that promote nonviolent resistance all over the world.
Not included in this blog post, but likely to be included in future blog posts are the following:
- Peace Activism and pacifist organizations
- Groups working for demilitarization and/or war abolition
- Groups working to ban specific weapons like mines, drones, etc.
- Conscientious objector organizations
- Local and national initiatives of nonviolence
The Albert Einstein Institution
Founded in 1983 by pioneering nonviolence scholar and activist Gene Sharp, Albert Einstein Institution promotes the study and strategic use of nonviolent action in conflict. They conduct research on nonviolent action, produce nonviolent action resources and provide trainings to nonviolent activists worldwide. Through their work they are committed to defending democratic freedoms and institutions, opposing oppression, dictatorship and genocide, and reducing reliance on violence as an instrument of policy.
CANVAS – Center for Applied Non-violent Action and Strategies
CANVAS – the Center for Applied Non-violent Action and Strategies was founded in 2005 by leading nonviolence activists in Serbia with a mission to empower activists around the world on the use of strategic nonviolent resistance as a tool in the promotion of human rights and democracy. CANVAS operates a network of international trainers and consultants with expertise in building and running successful non-violent movements. They serve as a vital hub for supporting activists on the ground and fostering local and regional initiatives rooted in nonviolent struggle and creative activism. The resources available on their website, training, tactics and approaches are super creative and well organized.
Waging Nonviolence
Waging Nonviolence is media organization that provides original reporting and expert analysis of social movements worldwide. They share stories from the forefront of nonviolent movements worldwide, provide unique perspectives, insight and ideas for nonviolent activists fighting for justice and peace. They shed light on overlooked movements in the Global South, fostering cross-cultural knowledge exchange and skill-sharing.
Nonviolence International
Nonviolence International advocates for active nonviolence and supports nonviolent campaigns worldwide. They support nonviolent movements worldwide by providing fiscal sponsorship to partners all over the globe. We tell the stories of emerging nonviolent movements to inspire others in their efforts to create a peaceful and just future. Founded by Palestinian activist Mubarak Awad in 1989, Nonviolence International aims to globalize “nonviolent practices through education, communication and empowerment of people.” Nonviolence International also has a great resource database with nonviolence study, education and training resources.
Metta Center for Nonviolence
The Metta Center for Nonviolence is an educational platform that offers a wealth of resources on nonviolence. Their website hosts their nonviolence podcast, and also shares videos, books, events, courses, and other content to promote nonviolence as a constructive force for social change. With an overall aim to cultivate the power of nonviolence for long-term transformation of oneself and the world, I find their resources, approach and style very accessible for those new to nonviolence.
The Global Nonviolent Action Database | Swarthmore College
Global Nonviolent Action Database offers free access to hundreds of case studies on nonviolent action campaigns from across the globe. A project of Swarthmore College, the database was created and maintained with academic rigor. There is an interactive map, and each case study is meticulously documented with sources cited. Case studies date back to ancient Egypt and are a great resource for teachers, trainers, researchers, writers, activists and others interested in the study of nonviolent action.
The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) provides education, resources, and strategic guidance on nonviolent action for the promotion of human rights, democratic self-rule and justice worldwide. Their main focus is educational, producing and sharing resources on civil resistance, conducting research, and leading educational programming on nonviolent conflict. They serve as a hub for nonviolence activists, scholars, educators, nongovernmental organizations, media professionals, and members of the policy community. They host a great resource library with hundreds of free downloadable reports and resources nonviolent conflict.
The King Center
Established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) serves as a global destination and resource center promoting nonviolent social change. The center empowers individuals to create a just, humane, equitable, and peaceful world by applying Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology of nonviolence. They do this through offering high-impact trainings and immersive programs that empower individuals and organizations to drive transformational outcomes and reshape culture through the power of nonviolence.
The Friends for a Non-Violent World
Friends for a Non-Violent World works to empower individuals of all backgrounds to embrace nonviolence to transform conflict and address the root causes of violence. They provide workshops, trainings and tools for active nonviolence, and also have a podcast called Everyday Nonviolence.
Pace e Bene and Campaign Nonviolence
Pace e Bene has been leading nonviolence trainings, publishing books on nonviolence since its founding in 1989. Their flagship program called Campaign Nonviolence carries out a range of activities to build a culture of nonviolence to end war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction. Key activities of Campaign Nonviolence includes their nonviolence training hub, a yearly nonviolent campaign called ‘nonviolence days of action’ and a project to build nonviolent cities.
Find ways to promote nonviolence
In mapping these ten organizations promoting nonviolent resistance, I’ve aimed to create a resource that not only highlights key players in this field but also sparks inspiration for those committed to peace activism. This post is just the beginning of a series that will delve deeper into various organizations advocating for nonviolence worldwide. Whether you’re an activist, researcher, teacher, or simply curious, I hope this blog post is a great resources for you to learn about, apply and/or promote nonviolence. Stay tuned for more, as we continue to explore how nonviolent action is shaping peace movements around the world.
If you found this article helpful and want to find more blog posts like this mapping organizations that build peace across a wide array of themes be sure to check out our Resources page!
If there are any great organizations that are missing on this list and you think it should be added, please submit it at the link HERE. I periodically update my resource posts and use these inputs to help me. Thanks in advance!
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