The Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns, 2nd edition
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The War Resisters' International's 'Handbook for Nonviolent Campaigns' is a 232 page toolbox of ideas and resources to support activists to run more effective campaigns. The original edition, published in 2009, was translated into over ten languages, including Spanish, German, Nepalese, Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, Korean, and Arabic, and has been used by activists all over the world. The 2014 edition added 50 pages.
There is no definitive recipe for successful nonviolent actions and campaigns. This handbook, however, is a series of resources that can inspire and support your own work, especially if you adapt the resources to your own needs and context.
For more information on organizing effective actions, check out our Nonviolent Action + Campaigns.
The Handbook is split into 5 main sections, with 50 additional pages in the 2nd edition (2014):
- Introduction to nonviolence - including “The Pragmatic dimensions of active nonviolence”, “Gender and nonviolence”, and “Nonviolence and power”
- Developing strategic campaigns - including “Why things don't 'just happen'”, “Theories of change”, “Stages of escalation in a nonviolent campaign”
- Organising effective nonviolent action - including dealing with fear, coping with the stress and strain of taking a stand, an activism in oppression regimes.
- Case studies: stories and experiences – 15 stories from around the world
- Training & exercises - over 20 with clear instructions for facilitators.
There is also a glossary, a DIY section and an extensive list of other resources. The first edition can be purchased at a small discount here.
Authors & Editors: Andrew Dey, Javier Garate, Subhash Kattel, Christine Schweitzer, and Joanne Sheehan
