Text reads 'Democracy Resource Hub - Power building and nonviolent action'. Icon of a lightning bolt. Logo of Democracy Resource Hub on top left.

Power-Building and Nonviolent Action: A Democracy Resource Hub Guide

Introduction

A guide with resources, directories and media about power-building and nonviolent action collated by the Democracy Resource Hub.

  • Learn grassroots organizing techniques and nonviolent protest strategies to amplify marginalized voices and drive systemic change.
  • Explore civil resistance methods, community mobilization tactics, and intersectional organizing approaches to challenge injustice and shape inclusive democratic processes through peaceful activism.

What are power-building and nonviolent action and why are they important for democracy?

Building power through nonviolent action and community organizing is a cornerstone of a thriving democracy. It:

  • Amplifies marginalized voices
  • Resists democratic backsliding
  • Drives systemic change
  • Creates pathways for citizens to shape decisions affecting their lives

In today’s complex political landscape, these skills are crucial for mobilizing people, challenging injustice, and creating pressure for sustainable solutions.

Power-Building and nonviolent action aren’t just for activists and organizers – these approaches provide diverse options for ordinary people to engage and build power by working together to foster a more robust, participatory democracy that serves all citizens.

How does power-building and nonviolent action fit into the broader movement for democratic renewal?

Power-building and nonviolent action work synergistically with other key approaches:

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Peacebuilding: Offers communication tools to foster understanding amongst diverse groups and manage intra-movement conflict.


Strengthening Democracy: Includes participatory democracy innovations that elevate grassroots voices.

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Strategic Planning: Helps assess opportunities, set goals, and ensure nonviolent tactics are deployed effectively.

Narrative & Storytelling: Unites movements and provides a shared sense of purpose.

Powerbuilding & Nonviolent Action Skillsets & Resources

How can grassroots and community organizing help build power?

Grassroots organizing develops leadership and builds capacity in communities for sustained collective action on local issues. It empowers people to advocate for themselves, strengthens movements, and creates a foundation for democratic engagement. This approach ensures renewal efforts are grounded in local needs and perspectives. Here are some resources to learn more:

Case Studies: Organizing 

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Visit the Strategic Planning page for more resources about
organizing.

How can nonviolent action approaches reinforce organizing to build power?

Nonviolent Direct Action uses creative resistance through protests, civil disobedience, strikes, and other disruptive tactics to dramatize injustice and press for change. When strategically deployed, these methods become potent forces for rights and democracy, enabling effective challenges to injustice even under severe repression. Here are some resources to learn more:

Case Studies: 

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Visit the Strategic Planning page for more resources about
how nonviolent action fits into a strategic plan.

How can we build power to renew democracy through coalitions, campaigns and movements?

Building power through coalitions, campaigns, and movements, is about uniting people around a shared vision. Coalitions bring diverse groups together, campaigns mobilize for specific goals, and movements sustain long-term engagement. This approach connects grassroots energy with strategic action, fostering broad participation in democratic renewal while achieving tangible results. Here are some resources to learn more:

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Visit the Strategic Planning page for more resources about
movement and coalition building.

How can we use activism to mobilize to defend democracy against authoritarianism?

Anti-authoritarian mobilization involves defending democratic institutions and norms against threats. This includes pro-democracy activism, monitoring abuses of power, and modeling inclusive forms of democracy. It focuses on protecting essential features like freedom, rule of law, pluralism, and free & fair elections. Here are some resources to learn more:


Visit the
Strengthening Democracy page for more resources about Defending Democracy.

How can we organize for social, economic, environmental & racial justice?

Organizing for social, environmental, and racial justice involves holistic advocacy to dismantle interlocking systems of oppression. This approach centers marginalized voices, connects issues, and builds broad solidarity for equity. It's essential for creating inclusive democratic systems and addresses environmental justice concerns. Here are some resources to learn more:

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Visit the Peacebuilding page for more resources about
belonging & inclusion.

Power-Building & Nonviolent Action Directory

The Democracy Resource Hub Directory is organized into three groups: 

  1. Networks: Organizations to join and work with.
  2. Training Organizations: Offering workshops, trainings, webinars and courses. 
  3. Resource Libraries: Information hubs for deeper exploration.

The directories on this page only include organizations and libraries related to “Power-Building & Nonviolent Action.” (Full Directory listing available here)

Directory Navigation Tips:

  • Click on the Organization/Resource tile for more information.
  • Directory entries include a short “Summary,” a longer “Description,” website link, and other information.
  • Use Table View for easy viewing on mobile devices, or for dynamic spreadsheets on desktops.
  • Use Filter (on desktops) to focus on the specific information you’re looking for, such as skillsets, target audience, learning goals, location. (Learn more: How to Filter).

Power-Building & Nonviolent Action Network Directory

Table View (mobile friendly)

Power-Building & Nonviolent Action Training Directory 

Table View

Power-Building & Nonviolent Action Resource Libraries

Table View

Featured Media

Newsletters and Blogs

  • VISTA by The Horizons Project
    The Horizons project seeks to strengthen key relationships, foster collaborations, and channel resources within the system of social change to address injustice, advance societal healing, and reimagine our democracy.Subscribe here
  • Waging Nonviolence
    Waging Nonviolence is a nonprofit media organization dedicated to providing original reporting and expert analysis of social movements around the world.

Books

Articles, Essays &

Reports

Podcasts

Collective impact Forum Podcast

Text reads 'Collective Impact Forum'.

The Collective Impact Forum is here to share resources, tools, and stories to support social change makers working in cross-sector collaboration.
Recommended Episodes:

Democracy Undone: The Authoritarian’s Playbook

Title reads 'Democracy Undone: The Authoritarian’s Playbook'. A blackboard with chalk illustrations and arrows. From left to right across the blackboard is a cannon being lit with text 'Weaponize fear'. Then a balancing scale with a hand holding one side down that reads 'Undermine Institutions'. Then a hand holding up a book that reads 'Exploit religions'. Then a family with a suitcase standing in front of a large metal fence that reads 'Target outsiders'. Then a person standing on a step holding a sword aloft that reads 'Rewrite history'. Then two hands - one is holding two people up and one is squishing two people down and text reads 'Divide and conquer'. Then a sum of 2 + 2 = 4 with a hammer smashing the 4 and text reads 'Erode truth'.

In this project, Democracy Undone: The Authoritarian’s Playbook, GroundTruth reporting fellows chronicled how seven nationalist leaders in different countries seem to be working from the same playbook.

Nonviolent Action Lab Podcast

The Nonviolent Action Lab Podcast brings you the latest research, insights, and ideas on how nonviolent action can — or sometimes fails — to transform injustice.
Recommended Episodes:

Anti Authoritarian Podcast

Text reads 'Anti Authoritarian Podcast'. A border surrounds the text with text in the bottom right that reads '22CI'. After the word Anti are three lines (symbolic of a loudspeaker?)

The Anti-Authoritarian Podcast is here to help anyone concerned about creeping authoritarianism and fascism in the U.S. and beyond to confront strategy questions that will strengthen their work to advance multiracial democracy and stop the rise of authoritarianism.
Recommended Episodes: 

Videos & Movies

ICNC Webinar: Civil Resistance Tactics in the 21st Century

A Force More Powerful – English – India / Nashville / South Africa 

A Force More Powerful – English – Denmark / Poland / Chile 

The SNAP Guide – An Animated Discussion on Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding

Democracy Undone: The Authoritarian’s Playbook – Video Playlist

How to Filter the Directories

  1. Click on “Filter” in the top left corner
  2. Click on “+ Add Condition”Screenshot of button that reads 'Add condition'. This button is for the Democracy Resource Hub Directory of Networks, Training Organizations, and Resource Libraries.
  3. Use the dropdown menu to change “Name” (red circle) to one of these options: Category, Skillset, Audience, Location or Goal 
  4. Use the dropdown menu to change “Enter a value” (green circle) by selecting your area of focus.Screenshot of Airtable Directory Form Table of filtering and sorting options. The directory is the Democracy Resource Hub Directory of Networks, Training Organizations, and Resource Libraries.
  5. It is possible to add multiple filters. 

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