Book cover for SNAP- Synergizing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding

SNAP: Synergizing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding: An Action Guide

By Lisa Schirch, Nadine Bloch, United States Institute of Peace

A strategic framework for activists, peacebuilders, and organizers working to transform violent conflict and advance a just peace.

Contents

Introduction

Boycotts and protests, or dialogue and negotiation? Pressure or engagement? Which approaches, and in what sequence, are most effective for transforming conflict and building just and peaceful societies?

Scholars, activists, organizers, and peacebuilders have been grappling with these questions for decades. This is the core idea of this action guide: nonviolent action and peacebuilding processes achieve more success when they are intentionally used together rather than separately.

This action guide seeks to build bridges between peacebuilding and nonviolent action practitioners so that methods are used strategically and effectively on the path toward conflict transformation. It shows how dialogue, direct-action skills, and approaches can be synergized to advance justice and sustainable peace.

This guide is for trainers, facilitators, and other practitioners serving the many organizers, activists, mediators, negotiators, and peacebuilders who want to learn more about how to integrate nonviolent action and peacebuilding strategies in their work.

There is also a course centred around the guide which seeks to illustrate how the most strategic and effective methods from Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding can reinforce one another.

A Primer on Strategic Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Processes
- What Is Conflict Transformation?
- What Is Nonviolent Action?
- What Is Peacebuilding?
- Resources
- Notes
SNAP: Introducing an Action Guide for Synergizing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding
- Is Combining Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding a New Idea?
- From Separation to Synergy
- Who Are We to Write This Guide?
- Who Is This Guide For?
- How Is the SNAP Guide Organized?
- Making This Common Practice: How to Maximize Learning in a Training or Workshop
- Resources
- Notes
Unit 1: Synergize for Success
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: Liberia Mass Action for Peace
- Key Concepts
- The Curle Diagram: How Do Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Fit Together?
- How Does the Curle Diagram Illustrate the Roles of Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding?
- What Happens When There Is No Synergy between Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Skills?
- What Are Obstacles to Greater Synergy between Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Today?
- Synergizing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Who Needs to Be Involved?
- Can We Energize the Synergy?
- Beyond the Page #1: Sequencing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Methods
- Beyond the Page #2: Ideal Community/Village Exercise
- Resources
Unit 2: Start Strategically for Successful Conflict Transformation
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: U.S. Civil Rights Movement
- Key Concepts
- What Are the Components of Strategic Planning?
- How Does Strategic Planning Help Activists and Peacebuilders Build a More Sustainable, Just Peace?
- Beyond the Page #1: The Blanket Game
- Resources
Unit 3: Dialogue to Defuse Interpersonal Conflict and Support Coalition Building
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: Chile’s “No” Campaign
- Key Concepts
- Beyond the Page #1: Practice Building Alliances and Coalitions
- Beyond the Page #2: Using Hassle Lines to Practice Defusing Difficult Situations
- Resources
- Notes
Unit 4: Facilitate to Develop Group Goals and Consensus
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: Curbing Police Corruption in Uganda
- Key Concepts
- Beyond the Page #1: Facilitation and Group Decision-Making Role Play
- Resources
Unit 5: Assess to Build Awareness and Better Strategy
- Learning Objectives
- Key Concepts
- The Six Key Assessment Questions
- 1. WHO Are the Key Stakeholders and Where Do They Stand on the Conflict?
  Beyond the Page #1: Spectrum of Allies and Opponents
  Beyond the Page #2: Stakeholder Mapping
- 2. WHY Are the Key Actors Motivated to Drive Violence or Mitigate Conflict?
  Beyond the Page #3: Positions, Interests, and Needs Onion Analysis
- 3. WHAT Is Driving or Mitigating the Conflict?
  Beyond the Page #4: Tree Analysis Tool
- 4. HOW Are Key Actors Using Power to Drive or Mitigate Conflict?
  Beyond the Page #5: Power Analysis Tool
  Beyond the Page #6: Pillars of Support Tool
- 5. HOW Do You Identify Moments of Vulnerability and Moments of Opportunity?
  Beyond the Page #7: Past Analysis Time Line Tool
- 6. WHERE Is the Conflict Taking Place?
  Beyond the Page #8: Connectors and Dividers Tool
- Resources
- Notes
Unit 6: Set SMARTT Goals
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: Danish Resistance to Nazi Occupation, 1940–45
- Key Concepts
- Beyond the Page #1: Strategic Planning Pyramid
- Resources
Unit 7: Innovate and Sequence Nonviolent Action Tactics to Build Power
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: Otpor!
- Key Concepts
- Widen Participation
- Beyond the Page #1: Best Action, Worst Action Reflection
- Beyond the Page #2: Strategic Points of Intervention
- Beyond the Page #3: Choosing Tactics Planning Sheet and Comparison Matrix
- Resources
- Notes
Unit 8: Sequencing Nonviolent Action and Negotiation Tactics for Sustainable Solutions
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: The Jasmine Revolution and the Tunisian Quartet Peace Process
- Synergizing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Key Concepts
- Beyond the Page #1: Negotiation Simulation
- Beyond the Page #2: Sequencing Nonviolent Action and Peacebuilding Methods in Tunisia
- Resources
- Notes
Unit 9: Bringing It All Together: Strategic Planning Time Lines
- Learning Objectives
- Front Line Story: 2006 Democracy Movement in Nepal
- Key Concepts
- Beyond the Page #1: Prioritize Targets or Key Stakeholders
- Beyond the Page #2: Synergizing Strategic Planning Time Line
Glossary