Introduction
Explore how humor and dilemma actions empower pro-democracy movements by exposing authoritarian absurdities and fostering community resilience.
Humor and dilemma actions are powerful tools for defending democracy, especially in repressive environments. By placing authoritarian regimes in “lose-lose” situations and engaging public attention, these creative tactics help counter repression and strengthen communities.
As Ivan Marovic commented during the workshop, “Strategic humor isn’t about making fun—it’s about exposing the absurdity of power that claims to serve the people but often betrays them.”
The following insights are inspired by “Defending Democracy with Humor and Dilemma Actions Tactics,” a webinar hosted by the Democracy Resource Hub and Horizons Project on the 28 Oct 2024 as part of the Intermestic Learning Series, which fosters global knowledge-sharing to support democracy.
The global panel of speakers included:
- Khumbulani Maphosa (Zimbabwe) Director, Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights
- Sophia McClennen (USA) Director, Center for Global Studies; Professor, International Affairs, Penn State University
- Ivan Marovic (Serbia) Executive Director, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
- Pedro Silva (USA) Founder, The Liberation Comedy Project
- David Purdue (USA) Activist and Comedian
Speaker Contributions
Khumbulani Maphosa (Zimbabwe)
Core Insights
- Humor in Service Delivery
Khumbulani shared how creating “burst” certificates for water leaks humorously highlighted government neglect, pressuring local authorities to act on their service mandate. - Global Resonance of Local Tactics
Their actions demonstrate how relatable, humorous protests can draw attention to systemic issues and inspire similar campaigns worldwide.
We created ‘burst’ certificates for water leaks,” an example of “the dilemmas that we’ve been doing to push the local authority to act on their mandate in terms of service delivery.
Sophia McClennen (USA)
Director, Center for Global Studies; Professor, International Affairs, Penn State University
Core Insights
- Effectiveness of Dilemma Actions
Sophia shared research showing that nonviolent movements using dilemma actions had a significantly higher success rate, underscoring the strategic value of humor and satire in social movements. - Humor as a Cognitive Tool
She explained that humor reduces counter-arguing by engaging people’s desire to “get the joke,” which allows the underlying message to resonate more deeply. Watch here
We found that nonviolent movements using dilemma actions had a 63% better success rate. – Sophia McClennen
Ivan Marovic (Serbia)
Executive Director, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
Core Insights
- Symbols of Oppression as Props: Ivan explained how humor turns symbols of oppression into absurd props, shifting power dynamics and making regimes appear ridiculous.
- Strategic Use of Self-Deprecation: He discussed the role of self-deprecating humor in activism, which can foster self-reflection and encourage people to examine their own role in societal issues.
- Mockery vs. Teasing in Humor: Ivan noted that gentle teasing, rather than harsh mockery, can prompt people to see their own complicity in societal problems without feeling attacked, creating a space for cathartic self-reflection.
Strategic use of humor is not just making fun of somebody, but making fun of somebody in a way that they change their behavior because they want to step out of that position where they’re at the butt of the joke. – Ivan Marovic
Pedro Silva (USA)
Core Insights
- Reframing Fears through Comedy
Pedro emphasized that laughter enables people to process fears, helping them confront biases in a safe, non-threatening way. - Tension Release and Self-Reflection
He uses humor to help audiences laugh at themselves, encouraging reflection and reducing defensiveness toward others. - Comedy as a Tool for Empathy
By laughing at their own fears and biases, audiences can begin to see others with less fear and more understanding, creating a shared experience that builds empathy.
When we laugh at something, typically we only can laugh at things that we’ve processed. So if we haven’t processed it yet, then it’s very difficult to laugh at it. – Pedro Silva
David Perdue (USA)
Core Insights
- Unity through Laughter
David highlighted how self-deprecating humor creates camaraderie, fostering openness and reducing defensiveness. - Comedy as a Tool for Connection
He explained how laughter brings people together, even those with different views, creating shared moments that open doors for dialogue.
When people laugh, it’s a moment of unity, even if they don’t share the same views. – David Perdue
Case Studies from the Event
- Khumbulani Maphosa’s “Pothole Plants”
Residents placed uprooted grass or shrubs in potholes to highlight neglect, prompting the city council to take action. - Ivan Marovic’s “Barrel of Laughs”
In Serbia, activists set up a barrel labeled for donations for Milosevic’s retirement, allowing citizens to hit the barrel with a bat if they didn’t have money. This humorous action led to the police arresting the barrel, making the authorities look absurd. - David Perdue’s “Name Mix-Up”
He shared how having the same name as a senator led to receiving misdirected messages. He used this confusion to create a humorous platform, highlighting misunderstandings and misinformation in politics.
Watch Full Webinar
Recommended Resources
Dilemma Action
- Dilemma Actions: The Power of Putting your Opponent in a Bind (for content, video and wisdom from Pranksters vs. Autocrats: Why Dilemma Actions Advance Nonviolent Activism)
- Strengthen a Campaign with Dilemma Demonstrations (for practical application)
- The dilemma action: analysis of an activist technique, (for analysis and case studies)
- The Dilemma Demonstration: Using nonviolent civil disobedience to put the government between a rock and a hard place (for practical application hosted by NewTactics)
- Dilemma Actions Boost Nonviolent Campaign Success (for academic research)
Humor & Creativity for Advocacy
- Otpor! Overcoming Despair and Apathy to Win Democracy (Commons Library)
- Pranks, Performances and Protestivals: Public Events (Commons Library)
- Humorous Political Stunts: Nonviolent Public Challenges to Power (Commons Library)
- Cheeky and Disorganized: Nannagogy and the Knitting Nannas (Commons Library)
- “A Laughing Matter: Comedy’s Role in Social Change” (American University)
- “Not Just a Punchline: Humor and Nonviolent Action” (United States Institute of Peace)
About Us
This event and resource page is a collaboration between The Horizons Project, 22nd Century Initiative, Community Justice Project and Fair and Just Prosecution, and the Democracy Resource Hub.
The Horizons Project recognizes the urgency for diverse movements to come together in the United States to protect democracy, stand for nonviolence, and demand peace. Our vision, mission, and values represent our deep commitment to systems-level organizing with the existing ecosystem of social change.
The Intermestic Learning Series aims to foster a dynamic exchange of knowledge, strategies, experiences, and insights among organizers and movement builders from the United States and around the globe on defending and promoting democracy in their respective contexts.
Previous event in this series:
- Mediation for Movements: Managing Intra-Movement Conflict
- Organizing in Increasingly Repressive Environments: Pushing Against Criminalization
The Democracy Resource Hub is a collaborative effort supported by the 22nd Century Initiative, United Vision Idaho, the SHIFT Action Lab, and the Horizons Project. It is hosted by the Commons Social Change Library. For more information and to access a wealth of learning resources to complement these webinars, visit the Democracy Resource Hub Collection.