Nonviolent direct action can play a powerful role in campaigns. This article summarises some of the characteristics that can make NVDA either effective or ineffective, and encourages the use of clear tactics criteria in developing campaign strategy.
Activity: Read
Read
Looking for articles, books, case studies, tips about social change and activism? You’ve found the right place – The Commons Social Change Library.
Learning From a Tibet Campaign Win
Kyinzom Dhongdue from Australian Tibet Council shares the story of a campaign win and the lessons that can be taken from it. The country’s oldest university cancelled a talk by the Dalai Lama. Within a week, the University of Sydney backtracked and released a hasty statement welcoming His Holiness on campus in June. The short campaign shows the value of rapid response people power tactics.
Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change – Book Review
Anne O’Brien reviews Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change by Cynthia Kaufman. Kaufman connects theory with the day to day dilemmas that activists face in the practical work of challenging injustice.
The Activists’ Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Participatory Democracy – Book Review
Aidan Rickett’s The Activists’ Handbook is a powerful guide to grassroots activism. Naomi Blackburn reviews the early chapters of the book which are particularly relevant to Theories of Change.
Art and Campaigning: Lessons about the Effective Use of Art in Campaigns
Lessons about the effective use of art in campaigns from three activist artists: Tom Civil, Arlene TextaQueen and Van Thanh Rudd.
Facilitation at Occupy Melbourne
Insights about facilitation from the very challenging General Assembly process at Occupy Melbourne. This article will be of interest to facilitators and others learning about group process, as well as people keen to find out about the Occupy movement. These reflections were written two weeks after Occupy Melbourne kicked off in October 2011.
Tips for New Activists
What it takes for people to get active, what leads to people dropping out of activism, & what we should think about when engaging new activists.
Occupy Melbourne Case Study: A Missed Opportunity
Occupy Melbourne case study shares some of the lessons from Occupy Melbourne & why more effective skill-sharing would have made a difference.
Lessons from Hahrie Han’s ‘Moved to Action’
Joel Dignam reviews Hahrie Han’s Moved to Action. Han tackles the question of what motivates political participation by people who face significant barriers. Han provides a toolkit for those seeking to empower and work with, or within, marginalised communities.
Decentralisation: The Starfish and the Spider
Joel Dignam reviews Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom’s ‘The Starfish and the Spider’. The book delves into ideas and language around decentralisation with useful examples from history, social movements and commerce. It also includes practical tips for putting decentralisation into practice.
What Makes Non Violent Direct Action (NVDA) Effective?
Nonviolent direct action can play a powerful role in campaigns. This article summarises some of the characteristics that can make NVDA either effective or ineffective, and encourages the use of clear tactics criteria in developing campaign strategy.
Learning From a Tibet Campaign Win
Kyinzom Dhongdue from Australian Tibet Council shares the story of a campaign win and the lessons that can be taken from it. The country’s oldest university cancelled a talk by the Dalai Lama. Within a week, the University of Sydney backtracked and released a hasty statement welcoming His Holiness on campus in June. The short campaign shows the value of rapid response people power tactics.
Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change – Book Review
Anne O’Brien reviews Ideas for Action: Relevant Theory for Radical Change by Cynthia Kaufman. Kaufman connects theory with the day to day dilemmas that activists face in the practical work of challenging injustice.
The Activists’ Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Participatory Democracy – Book Review
Aidan Rickett’s The Activists’ Handbook is a powerful guide to grassroots activism. Naomi Blackburn reviews the early chapters of the book which are particularly relevant to Theories of Change.
Art and Campaigning: Lessons about the Effective Use of Art in Campaigns
Lessons about the effective use of art in campaigns from three activist artists: Tom Civil, Arlene TextaQueen and Van Thanh Rudd.
Facilitation at Occupy Melbourne
Insights about facilitation from the very challenging General Assembly process at Occupy Melbourne. This article will be of interest to facilitators and others learning about group process, as well as people keen to find out about the Occupy movement. These reflections were written two weeks after Occupy Melbourne kicked off in October 2011.
Tips for New Activists
What it takes for people to get active, what leads to people dropping out of activism, & what we should think about when engaging new activists.
Occupy Melbourne Case Study: A Missed Opportunity
Occupy Melbourne case study shares some of the lessons from Occupy Melbourne & why more effective skill-sharing would have made a difference.
Lessons from Hahrie Han’s ‘Moved to Action’
Joel Dignam reviews Hahrie Han’s Moved to Action. Han tackles the question of what motivates political participation by people who face significant barriers. Han provides a toolkit for those seeking to empower and work with, or within, marginalised communities.
Decentralisation: The Starfish and the Spider
Joel Dignam reviews Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom’s ‘The Starfish and the Spider’. The book delves into ideas and language around decentralisation with useful examples from history, social movements and commerce. It also includes practical tips for putting decentralisation into practice.