Nonviolence is Stronger Than Violence

Nonviolence is a more powerful method for social change than violence.

Here are some reasons why: 

1. Nonviolence is more participatory and can engage greater numbers.

2. Nonviolence wins new allies, while violence, even if from just a small group of participants, can isolate a movement from the rest of the people.

3. Research into nonviolence has resulted in empirical data showing it to be far more effective at confronting those in power than violence.

4. Nonviolence is more likely to lead to defections among an opponent’s supporters.

5. Nonviolence is likely to decrease the intensity of repression used against a movement.

6. Nonviolence is more likely to cause repression against a movement to backfire.

7. Nonviolence is more likely to keep the focus on the movement’s issues, rather than allowing the opponent to change the subject to “law and order”.

8. Nonviolence is more likely to lead to a democratic outcome after a conflict is over.

For more details on these empirically-proven tenets and observations: 

How the World is Proving Martin Luther King Right about Nonviolence

by Erica Chenoweth

The Power of Nonviolent Direct Action

by Daniel Hunter

Hold the Line: A Guide to Defending Democracy

by Hardy Merriman, Ankur Asthana, MariumNavid and Kifah Shah