Introduction
A collection of case studies and lessons learned from around the world about confronting authoritarianism and organizing resistance.
These case studies have been gathered by the Commons librarians from a range of sources, primarily from the Anti-authoritarian Playbook by Scot Nakagawa, Daniel Hunter, ICNC and others.
If you have a case study to add please contact us.
See also Preventing Authoritarian Consolidation: An Activist Checklist.
Case Studies and Lessons Learned
Africa
Egypt
The April 6th Movement in Egypt: A Case Study in Youth-Led Activism, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The April 6th Movement was a youth-led organization in Egypt that became one of the most prominent catalysts for the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, which ultimately led to the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak. Its emergence, strategies, and accomplishments offer valuable lessons for activists in the United States and beyond, particularly those confronting authoritarianism and systemic injustice.
The Egyptian Military Defects During the Arab Spring, Pillars of Support, Horizons Project & SNF Agora Institute, pgs 104 – 105
Between 1981-2011 Egypt was under the authoritarian rule of Hosni Mubarak. Upon taking power, Mubarak imposed a decades-long state of emergency that empowered the security forces to restrict free speech and assembly. The Mubarak regime rigged elections in its favor, violently cracked down on political opponents, and jailed tens of thousands without charge, many of whom were tortured. The military served as a key pillar of support for Mubarak…
South Africa
Case Study: South Africa’s Democratic Transition and Lessons for the U.S, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy in the early 1990s is one of the most remarkable cases of a deeply polarized nation stepping back from the brink of civil war, embracing democratic reforms, and fostering a national reconciliation process. Unlike other regime collapses that led to cycles of vengeance, South Africa achieved a peaceful transition that prevented widespread bloodshed while laying the foundation for inclusive governance. For democracy advocates in the U.S., South Africa’s experience offers critical lessons on navigating extreme polarization, confronting historical injustice, and building coalitions for democratic renewal.
South African Clergy Support Early Defections from Apartheid, Adam Fefer, Horizons Project & SNF Agora Institute
From 1948 to 1968, some South African clergy broke with apartheid, condemning it as un-Christian and resisting unjust laws through protest, public statements, and church independence efforts.
Asia
The Milk Tea Movement: A Case Study in Transnational Solidarity, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The Milk Tea Movement is a youth-led, transnational pro-democracy coalition that originated in Asia and connects activists in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar, and beyond. Named after the shared cultural affinity for milk tea in these regions, the movement exemplifies how social media and shared values can unite geographically disparate groups to resist authoritarianism. It offers vital lessons for activists worldwide, particularly in leveraging cultural symbols, digital tools, and transnational solidarity to counter oppressive regimes.
Mongolia
Authoritarianism to Democracy: The Story of Mongolia, Daniel Hunter
Learn about the story and the tactics (protests, hunger strikes) that led to Mongolia’s change from authoritarianism to democracy.
Philippines
Philippines Armed Forces Resist a Dictatorship, Pillars of Support, Horizons Project & SNF Agora Institute, pgs 102 – 103
The Philippines became increasingly authoritarian during the 1965-86 tenure of President Ferdinand Marcos. Between 1972-1981, the Marcos regime ruled under martial law, suspending parliament and censoring the media. Marcos justified these measures by exaggerating the threat of communist and Muslim insurgencies. Under this pretext, the Marcos regime committed grave human rights abuses,…
South Korea
South Korea’s Democratic Resilience: Lessons for Anti-Authoritarian Movements in the U.S., Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
South Korea’s recent democratic crisis and resilient response offer valuable lessons for anti-authoritarian movements in the United States. Both countries face challenges from political polarization, executive overreach, and the erosion of democratic norms. However, South Korea’s swift mobilization against authoritarian tendencies demonstrates that democracy can be defended through a combination of strong institutions, engaged citizens, collective memory, and cross-partisan cooperation.
Lessons from South Korean Resistance to Authoritarianism and the MAGA Global Playbook Institute for Policy Studies
In December 2024, South Korean President Yoon Seok Yeol shocked the world by declaring martial law on national television, making bizarre claims about threats from “North Korea’s communist forces” and “anti-state” elements. He ordered special forces soldiers to storm the National Assembly to arrest lawmakers, but South Koreans quickly mobilized to block the troops, enabling lawmakers to climb walls to enter the Parliament and vote 190-0 to revoke Yoon’s unconstitutional order. By dawn, Yoon had to comply with the Parliamentary resolution to rescind martial law. On Friday, April 4th KST, the South Korean Constitutional Court issued their verdict. If Yoon is impeached, a snap election will be underway, with a new South Korean president elected by June 2025. If the Court votes against the impeachment, a new era of emboldened right-wing authoritarians will seize state power, threatening the future of democracy in South Korea, one of the strongest in Asia. To discuss this dangerous situation, IPS hosted this online roundtable with leading experts to discuss the South Korean pro-democracy movement, especially the role of activists, labor, and media, to push back against martial law and rising authoritarianism in South Korea.
Korean Clergy and Monastics Resist Martial Law, The Beautiful Movement- The Horizon Project
When scripture becomes strategy: lessons from Korean clergy resisting authoritarianism through faith.
Taiwan
Taiwan’s Democracy Defense Playbook, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
Taiwan is a democracy of 23 million people living 100 miles from a global authoritarian superpower that claims to own them. They face daily disinformation attacks, military threats, and economic pressure designed to crush their democracy. And yet, Taiwan’s democracy is thriving. Not despite these threats, but because they’ve built something remarkable: a whole-of-society defense system run by citizens, not soldiers.
Thailand
Case Study: Pro-Democracy Organizing in Thailand, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
…In a country that has suffered multiple coups and extreme repression, pro democracy organizing continues and the base for democratic reforms is growing, and the leadership remains hopeful and are joyfully looking forward to a time when they will be able to secure a margin of victory too big to be denied…
Europe
The Singing Revolution (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 1987–1991), Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The Singing Revolution in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania was an inspiring example of how cultural expression can serve as a powerful tool of resistance against oppression. In the late 1980s, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania faced the crushing weight of Soviet rule. Rather than resorting to violence, they turned to their rich cultural traditions, using song as a unifying and emotionally resonant method to demand freedom. Here’s a deeper look into their strategies, impact, and what U.S.-based activists can learn from their example.
Belarus
Case Study: The 2020 Belarus Uprising: A Failed Revolution or a Blueprint for Future Resistance?, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The 2020 Belarus Uprising was one of the largest and most sustained pro-democracy movements in Eastern Europe in decades. It erupted in response to Alexander Lukashenko’s fraudulent re-election and quickly escalated into mass protests, widespread strikes, and decentralized resistance that nearly toppled his authoritarian regime. While the movement did not succeed in ousting Lukashenko, it revealed critical vulnerabilities in autocratic governance and provided key lessons for anti-authoritarian struggles worldwide.
Denmark
The Danes Resisted Fascism, and So Can We, Sarah Sophie Flicker, The Nation
Danish resistance didn’t arrive all at once during World War II. But taken as a whole, the Danes’ actions are a testament to what’s possible when we work together to fight fascism.
Georgia
148 Days and Counting: Georgia’s Battle Against Authoritarianism, Tamta Chkhaidze, The Forge
Learn how Georgian citizens have fought against their own Trump-like figure to get a glimpse of what may be ahead for the United States.
Hungary
Budapest Pride 2025: A Successful Anti-Authoritarian Campaign, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
A successful demonstration of how vulnerable minority rights can become the focal point for broader anti-authoritarian organizing when framed correctly and supported by strategic coalition building.
Poland
All Rise: Judicial Resistance in Poland, ICNC
This monograph investigates the strategic and organized resistance of Polish judges against the authoritarian encroachments on judicial independence by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party from 2015 to 2023. See related article – Polish Judges Resist Attacks on the Rule of Law, Horizon Project.
Polish Bishops Refuse to Support Authoritarianism, Pillars of Support, Horizons Project & SNF Agora Institute, pgs 62-65
Time Period: 2016-2023
Serbia
Overcoming Despair and Apathy to Win Democracy (Serbia), George Lakey, Ivan Marovic
Lessons on movement building from one of the founders of the Serbian student movement that brought down dictator Slobodan Milosevic. See also documentary Bringing Down a Dictator.
Otpor’s Mischief Against Milošević: A Blueprint for Anti-Authoritarian Resistance, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The story of Otpor, the Serbian youth-led resistance movement, offers powerful lessons in how creativity, humor, and strategic mischief can undermine authoritarian regimes. In the late 1990s, Otpor became a central force in the fight to depose Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević, and their unconventional tactics resonated globally as a model for grassroots, nonviolent resistance.
Slovakia
Slovakia: A Narrow Victory Against Right-Wing Populism, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
Slovakia has been experiencing a critical democratic struggle since Robert Fico returned to power as Prime Minister in 2023. The confrontation between his populist, pro-Russian government and the progressive opposition reflects broader tensions playing out across Europe…The Slovak experience offers several valuable lessons for those opposing authoritarianism in the United States.
Spain
Case Study: Spain’s Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
Spain’s transition from the authoritarian rule of Francisco Franco to a modern democratic state is one of the most successful examples of a nation stepping back from the brink of civil conflict and reinvigorating democracy. For U.S.-based democracy reformers, Spain’s experience offers crucial lessons on managing political polarization, institutionalizing democratic reforms, confronting historical injustice, and ensuring that democracy is not just restored but actively defended.
Turkey
Standing Man Protest (Turkey, 2013): Lessons and Guidance for Civil Resistance Activists in the U.S., Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The “Standing Man” protest, also known as Duran Adam, emerged as a powerful act of defiance during the 2013 Gezi Park protests in Turkey. When police violently cracked down on demonstrations in Taksim Square, one man, Erdem Gündüz, chose to stand silently in the square for hours, facing a portrait of Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. His silent, motionless stance became a symbol of resistance against government repression and inspired others to join him. The Standing Man protest offers significant lessons for U.S. civil resistance leaders, particularly in moments of escalating authoritarianism and polarization.
Latin America
Brazil
The Fall of Bolsonaro: How Brazil’s Civil Society Mobilized to Protect Democracy (2019 – 2022), Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
In 2019, Brazil saw the rise of Jair Bolsonaro—a former military officer turned authoritarian populist—who swept into power promising to restore order but quickly polarized Brazilians with his inflammatory rhetoric, anti-democratic tendencies, and policies that exacerbated social divides. Bolsonaro’s tenure was marked by his denial of COVID-19’s severity, disregard for the environment, and attacks on marginalized communities. But as his popularity began to slip, a massive mobilization against his presidency emerged, led by progressive social movements, Indigenous groups, environmental activists, and concerned citizens.
Resistance to Authoritarianism: Lessons Learned from Brazilian Civil Society, Igarape Institute
This document was developed based on an extensive literature review, media analysis, and 18 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including representatives from highly active institutions in the study’s topics of interest,
such as civil society, donors, and government. Through qualitative analyses, this paper examines the tactics and strategies adopted by Brazilian civil society in this challenging political context. It also examines how democratic
erosion and future preparedness impact the performance and evolving strategies of the involved actors.
Fighting Back Against Authoritarianism in Brazil
Ricardo Borges Martins shares how organisers at the communications lab, Quid, used powerful organising and digital strategies to build civic engagement and overcome the far right in Brazil.
Democracy Handbooks, Pacto Pela Democracia in Brazil
2 guides by Pacto Pela Democracia in Brazil in English and Portugese: –
– Lessons learned from the unique experience of defending the Brazilian electoral system
– The experience in coalition-building to defend Brazilian democracy
Brazilian Business Leaders Push Back on an Illiberal President, Pillars of Support, Horizons Project & SNF Agora Institute, pgs 17-18
Brazilian Religious Leaders and Democratic Backsliding, pgs 79-81
Time Period: 2019-2023
Brazilian Doctors Strike for Healthcare Reform and Democracy, Pillars of Support, Horizons Project & SNF Agora Institute
How Brazilian doctors disrupted a military regime and helped spark the end of dictatorship.
Chile
Case Study: Chile’s Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
Chile’s transition from dictatorship to democracy is one of the most remarkable cases of a nation stepping back from authoritarian rule and restoring democratic governance. After nearly 17 years of military dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), Chile successfully transitioned to a stable democracy; a feat made possible through mass resistance, strategic nonviolent struggle, coalition-building, and constitutional reform. For U.S.-based democracy reformers, Chile’s experience offers crucial lessons on defeating authoritarianism, reclaiming democratic institutions, and preventing the return of strongman rule.
How Chile’s Affinity Groups Resisted Pinochet’s Authoritarianism, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
During Pinochet’s dictatorship in Chile (1973–1990), resistance wasn’t a headline-grabbing mass movement—it was a network of small, trusted groups quietly working together to undermine the regime. These affinity groups (grupos de afinidad) operated under the radar, leaning on trust, tight collaboration, and sheer resilience. They formed the backbone of nonviolent resistance, tackling oppression one neighborhood, one strike, one song at a time. Here’s how they worked…
Lessons from Solidarity Networks in Chile for Today’s Anti-Authoritarian Organizers, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
Chile under Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship became a testament to the power of mutual aid and solidarity. Communities devastated by state violence and economic oppression found ways to survive and resist by leaning on trusted institutions, decentralizing their efforts, and amplifying their struggles on the world stage. Let’s dive deeper into how they did it and what we can take from their example as authoritarianism rears its head in our time.
Columbia
Case Study: Colombia’s Peace Process and Democratic Renewal, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
Colombia’s transition from decades of violent armed conflict to a fragile but significant democratic renewal is a powerful case study of how a polarized nation can step back from the brink, rebuild institutions, and restore public trust through negotiation, reconciliation, and structural reforms. For U.S.-based democracy reformers, Colombia’s experience provides critical lessons on peace-building, reintegration of extremist factions, addressing historical injustices, and sustaining democratic governance in the face of entrenched polarization.
Middle East
Iran
The Women’s Movement in Iran: A Catalyst for Resistance, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The women’s movement in Iran has been a relentless force of opposition against theocratic authoritarianism since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when the Shah’s monarchy was replaced by an Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Khomeini. From the very start, women found themselves at the epicenter of political and social change—not as passive spectators but as active, determined opponents of the new regime’s repressive policies. Their struggle is not just about gender rights; it’s about challenging the foundation of authoritarian power…Women’s leadership is a first principle of successful grassroots mobilizations against unjust power.
United States
Lessons from the U.S. Disability Justice Movement: Surviving Repression Through Mutual Aid and Solidarity, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
The disability justice movement in the United States is a powerful example of how communities can build resilience and achieved a degree of independence, creating more political and social space for organizing, under repressive systems. Through mutual aid, interdependence, and solidarity, this movement has shown us how to not only survive but challenge oppression and build a foundation for justice. Here’s some history, lessons, and practical recommendations for organizing resistance today.
Case Studies: Successful Immigrant Advocacy Against Authoritarian Forces, Anti-Authoritarian Playbook – Scot Nakagawa
An exploration of the responses, success factors and outcomes of examples from the US and around the world. What all the common success factors were across these case studies?
Ha, it’s a frog! On the role of humor in resistance movements, Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben’s article celebrates the power of humour in protest, highlighting a Portland activist in a frog costume whose playful defiance undermines fear-based narratives and shows how satire can be a potent tool against authoritarianism and reminding us that, like past movements, laughter can help win serious battles.
Explore Further
- Community Organising Program: Case Studies, Successes and Lessons Learned
- Understanding Authoritarianism: Resources to Defend Democracy, Othering and Belonging Institute
- The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding
- What ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Teaches about Resisting Authoritarianism
- Exploring Narrative Practices for Broad-based Movements in Contexts of Democratic Decline
- Safeguarding Civic Space: Harnessing Narrative Change to Restore Public Trust in Civil Society Organisations
- Resisting Authoritarianism
- Organizing in Increasingly Repressive Environments: Pushing Against Criminalization
- Can Nonviolent Struggle Defeat a Dictator? This Database Emphatically says Yes
- Democracy Undone: The Authoritarian’s Playbook
- Authoritarianism: How You Know It When You See It
- Democracy Resource Hub