Nonviolent Campaigns for Democracy & Human Rights

Ordinary people in countries around the world are increasingly engaging in nonviolent civil resistance--involving actions such as strikes, boycotts, mass demonstrations, and a wide variety of other forms of noncooperation--to hold powerholders accountable and win rights, freedom, and justice. In response, many governments are systematically attempting to repress these movements by sharing resources, information, and best practices, as well as providing each other with political, economic, and military support. As nonviolent movements encounter this active backlash, there is renewed urgency around the question of what actions sympathetic external actors can take to support these movements. This talk made the case that external actors have a right to provide certain forms of assistance to nonviolent movements struggling for democracy and human rights. It discussed the challenges, risks, and advisability of certain kinds of support.