Nonviolent Collective Action

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Citizens are drivers of positive change. From Africa to the Americas, Asia to Eastern Europe, regular people are actively tackling corruption, human rights abuses, and unaccountable rule. Social movements and other forms of nonviolent collective action have dismantled authoritarian regimes, impacted graft, and advanced democracy, accountability, peacebuilding, political, social and economic rights, and constructive citizen-state relations. On the ground, civic initiatives, campaigns, and social movements approach social change through an integrated lens rather than narrow silos. While this phenomenon is gaining more and more attention, it’s often not well understood among policy makers, donors, development and peacebuilding practitioners, the legal community, mainstream media, and even formal civil society. This course will examine the many forms of power in societies, the processes, skills, and methods of nonviolent action as well as its track record, misconceptions, outcomes, setbacks, and emergent challenges, such as democratic erosion, shrinking civil society, and climate change. We will examine policy and practical implications for international stakeholders, limitations of conventional civil society assistance, and constructive international support approaches to enable citizen agency and mobilization at the nexus of anti-corruption, human rights and democracy. Students will assess and synthesize research and theoretical concepts for practical application in the international arena, including their future professional pursuits, through individual and group analysis, assignments, and projects. Students will have access to the insights of civic leaders around the world and gain a deep understanding of why bottom-up pressure is necessary and often complementary to top-down, elite-led efforts.