The secret to effective nonviolent resistance | Jamila Raqib

We're not going to end violence by telling people that it's morally wrong, says Jamila Raqib, executive director of the Albert Einstein Institution. Instead, we must find alternative ways to conduct conflict that are equally powerful and effective. Raqib promotes nonviolent resistance to people living under tyranny -- and there's a lot more to it than street protests. She shares encouraging examples of creative strategies that have led to change around the world and a message of hope for a future without armed conflict. "The greatest hope for humanity lies not in condemning violence but in making violence obsolete," Raqib says.
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[@endrankluvsda4loko172]

I absolutely love this talk! It give actual examples that are practical and can be applied in other situations. Sometimes talks are good but remain in the abstract. This is good and applicable.

[@ahmh8411]

To be honest this is eye opening, it won't always work but it opens more choices and options at time of struggle.

[@Wmom18]

This is extraordinary! "Making violence obsolete" is the highest objective.

[@ryanlacroix6425]

If anyone hasn't already, a fascinating look into the experience of a child soldier from being "recruited" to "training and deployment" as well as the heartbreaking experience of an opposing force facing them is seen in Romeo Dallaire's "They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children". One of the saddest things I've ever read.

[@snehatijo8374]

Wow. This was really great, different from the normal overly idealistic view of non-violence that's presented

[@anahatagiri4232]

Yes! We need to be much more strategic with nonviolence. One of the best books for NONVIOLENT STRATEGY is The Strategy of Nonviolent Defense by Robert J. Burrowes. It is a dense read but worth the effort, a must read for activists everywhere.

[@wellspring2life-]

Love, love, love this. All Christians should head to DC and protest this war. 1M people on our knees praying. I will go....how can we organize this?

[@7head7metal7]

Making violence obsolete is a really powerful message!

[@FiremarshalM1]

Metalhead777 agree. I can't hear your pain when/if you are hurting me. 💫🔥🌱💖🕯♻️

[@SiouxsieDowns]

Gene Sharpe's from Dictatorship to Democracy in a talk. Very nice.

[@robincheah7001]

This is truly a great speech. As much as she has touched on war, which is nonviolence resistance on a larger scale, this can be applied to our daily lives as well. We might not be as strong to win a larger institution, we might not be able to strong-arm someone that has greater influence or power, but, we can do our part, just by what she mentioned here: "Nonviolent struggle works by destroying an opponent, not physically, but by identifying the institutions that an opponent needs to survive, and then denying them those sources of power. Nonviolent activist can neutralize the military, by causing soldiers to defect. They can disrupt the economy through strikes and boycotts, and they can challenge the government propaganda by creating AN ALTERNATIVE MEDIA" (2:48 - 3:12) I'm not an activist of any sort, but I strongly thinks that there are so much we can do to improve our lives, using the examples she mentioned.

[@aSonnetToScience]

favorite. Ted talk. ever.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Sending gratitude from a Daoist monastery near Seattle! 🌲💙☯️

[@DigitalWraith]

*This is a great video! I always thought, "if people refuse to fight in wars, there would be no war." When rich people send our family members to kill and be killed, neither side wins. Ask the mother of dead soldier if she feels that she won something when her country is victorious. Ask yourself if you feel victorious if someone you love deeply died in a war. I don't believe you would. And if so, such purgation won't last long.*

[@veemie8148]

As tragic as it is it's better than having your entire country invaded

[@helihobbit]

when THEY really mean to kill you...not merely enslave

[@leastbloodthirstyneocon2776]

welp better than being invaded and be utterly oppressed. Better die fighting than die oppressed.

[@1voluntaryist]

@@veemie8148 Invasion is no threat if the people refuse to give in just because they are physically overwhelmed. In Africa, some villages didn't worry about being raided to take slaves because those people wouldn't surrender just because they were taken prisoner. So, they were left alone. What am I saying? Slavery begins in the mind of the slave, not when their physical situation changes.

[@1voluntaryist]

@@helihobbit What good are dead people? There is no profit in killing everyone and destroying infrastructure. Nations invade to overcome the rulers and be the new rulers. If a nation has no rulers because they won't put up with them, they can't be ruled and therefore won't be invaded. Yamamoto, at the start of WWII, claimed Pearl was a mistake because the mainland was unconquerable due to the. independence of Americans. And he was correct.

[@alistair5393]

This has such relevance to the situation in Zimbabwe. People need to take on forms of non-violence instead of assimilating the methods of our neighbours down south

[@ShankarSivarajan]

Any society in which nonviolent resistance works is a good and noble society, regardless of the circumstances that led to the need for resistance in the first place.

[@MrMinhajHaider]

"making violence obsolete" a rather noble aim, but difficult to achieve.

[@danielbtwd]

Easy if we had the rule of law, but that requires an independent judiciary.

[@SimonAshworthWood]

"Difficult" is a subjective claim. What is an objective fact is that we CAN reduce violence and we CAN end violence.

[@1voluntaryist]

It requires education, practice, resolve based on strength of character. Those can be developed, especially with help, encouragement. But acting non-violently is a means, NOT a goal. Non-violence is used to achieve goals.

[@KezanzatheGreat]

@@1voluntaryist Violence is also a means, not a goal. The aim of nonviolence (in most cases) needs to be changing the goals, rather than the means of achieving them.

[@wilsonson_of_will2041]

In this time of distraught and violence I believe more people should watch this....

[@Postcinct]

I'd disagree about the complexity of non-violent action. The protesters are not trained and their is no overarching plan in a wide sense, it's the overall chaos through knockon effect that grinds systems to a halt. Effective, sure. But it's not that intricate unless viewed in retrospect.

[@ryanlacroix6425]

What makes you assert this? Why is strategic co-ordination not able to that or even do it better?

[@michelevalenti85]

The fact that it has mostly been as you say so far does not mean that it is the most effective way to do it. Indeed, I see in this video a call to improve and develop non-violent action, instead of setting up random protests.

[@ryanlacroix6425]

+Dj Nichols Clearly states "there is no overarching plan". That can indeed be interpreted as having large scale coordination but no long term strategy, you are correct. But I think that's much less likely.

[@kapitankapital6580]

The problem with non-violence is that it is always subservient to violence. If parents refuse to send their children to school, would they continue to do so if children who were found not to attend school were beheaded? For all the happy, nice feelings non-violence gives us, there is a reason that every single society in human history has been upheld and maintained by violence.

[@bsmi1361]

Non-violent movements depend on your situation. If you can't beat your oppressor at war for example

[@VoluntaryLiving]

Hope you are well Jamila!. So much respect for you and GS!

[@kaylaryder8371]

This is wonderful I write the wins on paper.......will share with the tribe

[@jerrylittlemars]

I tell you now THIS is an idea worth spreading!

[@morpheusbandathens1150]

I highly appreciate and respect your work and hope you ll evolve it to encompass all living beings' rights for freedom. It was unfortunate that from all the non violent campaigns that are happening you chose one that used innumerous eggs from caged chickens and another that used painted pigs that were used as a reference to the speciesist term "pig" that is used to insult somebody. Pigs and chickens deserve freedom too as they were born with legs and five senses and a brain to choose pleasure and avoid pain. If our struggle for our own freedom demoralises the rights of others, we unconsciously sabbotage our own struggle. Still thank you for everything, I believe in nonviolence and looking forward to learn more and practice it.

[@nadelemonade5002]

Wish the people in the Minnesota riots would watch this and understand how change is made

[@okiluxs]

Seriously, we need more of this. Lately bombs and guns are being used a little too much, and we're heading nowhere good. Such an amazing, learned speaker! Very relevant, very useful information.

[@danielcunningham5940]

I have just come to the realization that passive resistance is what needs to happen now in the U.S.A. I am willing so put my old butt on the line to go through the humiliations, the broken bones, the blood, since that is what it will take to pull down the tyrannical system in power now in this country. I hope a few million Americans are willing to stand up for justice.

[@tomover9905]

Are you making progress? Sincerely

[@SkyMurphy77]

Yes

[@문주혁-t9o]

i am impressed to watch it. actually i have not been interested in nonviolent conflict. this video is very useful to anyone!

[@nickalexander8561]

Best TED talk yet!!! 👍

[@BrotherWoody1]

The stark choice is between reformation or revolution. Truth is that no reform is possible with violence & no revolution is possible without it. According to Gandhi, the greatest virtue is NOT non-violence but courage. Gandhi was no armchair guru but was on on the front lines of implementing this strategy of resistance & overthrowing an empire at the same time.

[@madrededeus]

“Power never takes a back step - only in the face of more power. ” Malcolm X

[@ShamelessDuck]

Violent approach compared to non violent is not like people exchanging bows for guns. It's completely different in its core. One is physical warfare, the other one is psychological. One is better at immediate straightforward action, another is better at war of attrition. Violence most likely won't go away to be fully exchanged for non violent approach, if we don't completely change our way of thinking of conflict (and we probably won't, in observable future).

[@bhagya8390]

Brilliant talk. Violence should be made obsolete.

[@emmmmmveeee]

Inspired by you here in Saint Augustine, Florida!

[@jbmetrics42]

We just saw with the Leave campaign in Brexit just utterly fail to have a plan fully thought out, so it is equally important to challenge the leaders of nonviolent resistance to ensure they have a full plan, not just a position to fight for. Too many of these nonviolent movements have either a single position or too many positions but not an overall strategy of how to make a functional and operational plan. Just like any business venture, one doesn't simply invest in a business because it sounds good, one asks for a business plan, a sales plan, and an operational plan. Those are reviewed by experts and only then does the person invest in the business. The same approach needs to be taken with nonviolent resistance. It is essentially a business with a mission and vision as well, but needs to have a business plan, a sales plan, and an operational plan as well.

[@noviceprepper5397]

wonderful speech, thank you

[@alexsandror]

Gostaria de agradecer a Margarida por legendar este e outros vídeos.

[@sagesaatdjian3264]

Some of this is good advice, like recognizing and harnessing the collective power we have if we strike and stuff. But how does Non-Violence work in situations like Gaza, where the Palestinians are literally trying to protect themselves from the ruthless thugs of a nuclear power like the Israeli military? Also, tf is she talking about "we don't have to use bows and arrows because we've replaced them with more effective weapons?" That argument is suggesting that more powerful and violent weapons, like guns, can be used to keep the peace...wtf?

[@julypj2880]

Great Speech From 🇮🇳

[@QuranAISync]

All well and good, only problem being that her mentor Gene Sharp is well known to use these tactics to advance... let's say certain political agendas in places where he shouldn't be. Just because the method is non-violent we should still look to the end goal. End goal can still be to gain power and influence and same tactics can be used by those who don't wish well.

[@kaarenremley7585]

Is there a book on this topic? I'm particularly interested in seeing a physical copy of effective nonviolent strategies.

[@eusouagua]

Yes!

[@Heartbeat0N]

Non-violence can solve all non-problems in the world.

[@Carmen-mp3je]

"let's make violence obsolete" i'll saty with that frase, my Mexican people, we should learn that...

[@eddiegerbais-nief7745]

International conflit have already turned to non violent action as commercial blockade. (with russia for example)

[@eddiegerbais-nief7745]

as well as I =)

[@totoro888]

Riiiiight, only this is a part of huge propaganda lie that blocks the truth about the actions of another big country that wants power in that region. Guess which country!?! And in order to create that "commercial blockade" a civil war has been started, in case you didn't know. And thousands of people died. So much for "non violence"...

[@eddiegerbais-nief7745]

right, but its like in demonstration, the first act in non-violent, the result is.

[@geraldmerkowitz4360]

The secret to a non-cancerous comment section next ?

[@Illlium]

Turn it off. The only solution for cancer in the comments is the Final Solution, you're just going to have to live with it.

[@geraldmerkowitz4360]

Dead Joffrey If they wanted that, they would've done it already.

[@nice3333333333]

Use violence?

[@MazdaRX7007]

Only read pornhub comment sections :P

[@motivatedaily_4you]

Can you explain as per the violence in Australia for example what will happen, what can we implement to do what??

[@SurafelNigussie]

what a great work. Am really amazed with your work.

[@wiltonhall]

I've been involved in numerous nonviolent direction action campaigns since I was a teenager and support the spirit of this talk. However the talk really comes across as a moralizing polemic than an actual critical or persuasive argument for the power and need for nonviolent direct action. How about making a list of 13 common myths about nonviolence and debunking them? Or giving us 25 examples of where nonviolence has worked?

[@BlueyMcPhluey]

Americans listen up, you're going to need this with Hillary or Trump in charge

[@AqibA.C.]

Why Trump?

[@grapecanz]

ROFFL!!! America is too technologically advanced for any of the things she's described to work. Those examples worked because the places they were used didn't have the technology to operate without the consent of the citizenry. America also has much less unity in identity than many of those other countries. There are people who STILL think the blacks should "go back to Africa", lol. You try that kind of "non-violence" garbage, they'll replace you without blinking and/or move your job out the country. And with TPP? They'll sue YOU for loss of profits

[@BlueyMcPhluey]

grapecanz are you trying to say that American companies currently hire American workers out of charity?

[@grapecanz]

Nope; I'm saying that you'll never be able to galvanize all the people at the same time because Americans are to disconnected from each other's experiences. Take any "major issue" like gun control, immigration, abortion, etc. Neither side is willing to concede ANYTHING to the other, and the people in charge understand this and use it to manipulate the populous so there won't ever be a consensus. The technology angle matters because EVERYONE needs to leave for it to work. If just one group leaves and the rest keep working, then they get replaced.

[@BlueyMcPhluey]

grapecanz I don't think you need everybody for it to work, just a large enough of a percent for it to hit the companies hard where it counts.

[@iliduka3047]

You're right,but USA (the government primarily) isn't intrested in surpressing conflicts peacefully.The gun making factories gun shops and a lot of gun related bussinesses would lose a lot of money.

[@megaslayercho]

She should do this talk in King's landing next

[@FaceClef]

This is TED's response to the recent murders?

[@jamespicken6714]

I don't think animals should be used in protests, they'll be mistreated for sure.

[@valerieschiller7658]

It was an example of what was used in another country. They were not technically violent, so it still fits her hypothesis. Try not to moralize every example and focus on the point she is making.

[@dariacraparo8796]

Great ideas, although, we should admit that painting a pig bright green and drag it to a 'non-violent' protest is a bit contradictory.

[@tamicha1]

....I choose violence. - Cersei Lannister

[@MateoKupstysChica]

the mistake is to think of non-violence as an ethic-principle, and not as an strategy. This means, the fact that you are acting non-violently ain't a grantee for success. And strategy is always context related, so what was used by Gandhi, doesn't has to work in other places, and specially in other times.

[@tomgoodwin534]

Ghandi’s peaceful protest was only one of the many forms of popular resistance. Militant struggle contributed greatly to the independence of India. I highly suggest you read the book "How non-violence protects the state".

[@zhinosophy7923]

in kurdistan we are in strike and its a month and 20 days past school opening date and teachers refuse to teach due to not getting their money ..strike dont work and they've been told that what ever they do the government wont answer! its terrible here 😞

[@MrDayjafar]

“Nonviolent” action is literally supposed a show of who is willing to get violent. It is supposed to be breaking unjust laws and strikes. Also she uses “general strike” the wrong way.

[@Redbellynelly]

Very interesting and unique presentation, well done Jamila!!

[@lubricatedrooster7927]

I'm scared by the fact that I don't really want fighting to end, however by that I mean small scale with less atrocities. If wars and battles were still fought with spear and sword it would be much better but yeah...

[@damienlee54]

Thank you Gene Sharp.

[@illyriandescendant7963]

This is brilliant! Great speech! :)

[@monsterhigh1975]

Wonderful video! Am also thinking...if this is too idealistic?

[@uku4171]

As long as military lobbying is allowed and corruption exists, not gonna happen

[@Yarshy.]

I hope to see this strategy implemented in every conflict in my lifetime

[@FiremarshalM1]

Evergreen

[@deedlessdeity218]

Yet never forget to distance yourself, condemn, maybe even ostracise those mad ones in your movements that see violence and even murder as probate means to achieve your goals, as the only thing that does is sully these, and yourself. Are you sure you need examples? Most political movements and groups are infested with those types of humans.

[@nibussss]

Once violence obsolete the absolute non violent is slave?????.......

[@Orf]

5:00 "Non-violent struggle is just as complex as military warfare if not more so."

[@drhoku6287]

Когда будут русские субтитры?

[@amazingarmeen4981]

Proud of you Afghan beautiful young lady

[@UCCLdIk6R5ECGtaGm7oqO-TQ]

But why? What's wrong with using one's accrued power to dominate over the competition? Do you want a world where everyone survives, always, and the consequences associated with that? Do you understand how evolution works? Do you realise why you exist today?

[@sal-h8388]

Why is there no Arabic subtitles

[@BlackSabbath1989]

why would you need subtitles in the first place when the video is in english...

[@MattsInTheBelfry]

+Eierdotter Because positive ideas need to be known to Arab-speaking people?

[@blava3155]

+Eierdotter just because someone can read a few words in a title, doesn't mean that he/she can understand the entire video which is roughly 9 minutes long. :)

[@_starter]

Be nice to animals

[@Destro7000]

Is animals a metaphor?

[@roidroid]

some animals are dicks tho

[@markg9911]

For pigs

[@ruthmuluneh5188]

I don't get the point of nonviolent protest. They walk to get a discussion going but all we do is talk. No one ever takes action and nothing real ever happens. But what I don't understand is how does nonviolent action look like for the blacklivesmatter movement.

[@danielbtwd]

I think the point is about finding non violent strategies that are effective. Because violence just results in more violence. All lives matter.

[@uku4171]

The Baltic States gained independence from USSR using non-violent protest

[@shahfuhaid]

What if the oppressor is using the same non-violent means to oppress?

[@anandcherian7865]

Not all people can use non-violent methods, it requires great courage and it comes from love

[@edi9892]

I love her message, but even non-violent actions can fall into the same trap: an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. It's only natural that you react with making someone's life unpleasant if that person makes your life unpleasant. Unfortunately, most humans are far less rational than we fancy ourselves. We tend to take these responses personal rather than understanding that the other person didn't see any other way of defending his interests and no side is willing to discuss anything useful but keeps tossing insults and threats back and forth... when it escalates people do things that harm both their enemy and themselves. The worst part: people tend to see the end of a conflict without a victory not as an end of their suffering but a defeat, where all their suffering was in vain and thus they keep fighting and suffering without gaining anything by doing so!

[@williamsli3745]

those "resigned" peoples are still has little shame in them, won't work in PRC.

[@edwindeleon5232]

I ASKED CAROLINA TO PROTEST WITH ME

[@jabirmohamed5094]

#Sudan_Uprising #تسقط_بس Peaceful movement A nonviolence Revolution 20/1/2019. 12:

[@bhateharsh]

Gandhi would be left with just loin cloth had he used non-violence against radical terrorists.

[@lrc6217]

Where can i find the list?

[@sonasak6041]

look up Gene Sharp "198 methods of nonviolent action"

[@justinpoulose4951]

how a smaller community do these...?

[@katerinavolkova6499]

I wish to each person living in Russia to get this..

[@SimonAshworthWood]

Most people in Russia support the govt of Russia. What alternative do you propose? A return to the days of the U.S. puppet regime of Yeltsin, which imposed 100% capitalism on the people and so caused widespread poverty and suffering?

[@Baldor493]

Any chance there could be a link for that 198 ways of non-violent protest page or info?

[@Dayglodaydreams]

Okay, this was 2016.

[@geminidemoncat1]

...arent those passive aggressive tactics? i thought this video was abt equanimity :/

[@ChelovegII]

feels like she's cia

[@GEMINDIGO]

I dunno that painting pigs green is a good thing to do...unless it is just organic vegetable juice and flour or something natural like that...Animals have rights too!!!!!!!!!!

[@valerieschiller7658]

She is not saying every form of nonviolence is equally good. This was just an example of what people from a different country did. Even if we disagree with the treatment of the pig, the people were not technically violent. So, it still fits her hypothesis.

[@deadknowsthatwrong]

Violence and power are the only things that matter in politics, even in the current year. All other things are just gibberish and unnecessary constructions to cover it up.

[@MoistPinkTaco]

The irony of this being posted today.

[@KootFloris]

Here's some suggestions to begin your training with: medium.com/the-gentle-revolution/gentlyrevolt/home

[@jeffknott7360]

She should go work in the Middle East! Teaching Islam about non-violent protest!

[@shahenazrhamzawy3750]

please, translate these vedio into arabic

[@jameswarrren2545]

"The most excellent jihad is the one against the Self." [from Muhammed]

[@olganavros8736]

Using animals as symbols of protest and painting them to depict them as corrupt leaders is morally wrong on so many levels. I don't think Gandhi would have approved of this at all and I don't think abusing animals is a non-violent way of resisting corrupt regimes. The animals have nothing to do with the Guatemalan protests she described, so why punish them and involve them in our human conflicts. Lost all respect for this talk when I saw that.

[@919copacabana]

subitulos in spanish

[@dougwedel9484]

Ok, what happens now? What do Ukranians do?

[@hiamjanusz7354]

you're btfl

[@TannerWilliam07]

Looking at the comments on this video, we have a long way to go: facebook.com/rondwyersettingtherecordstraight/videos/859826237478725/