Question:
I teach high school history and want to present the downfall of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) regime in 1989 as the result of nonviolent action (Professor Nagler talked about this in one of the Berkeley podcasts). My question: Do you know if the people who started the peaceful demonstrations in Leipzig were consciously using nonviolence because they were familiar with and dedicated to principled nonviolence, or was their choice the result of just not being very well armed (and therefore, a feeling that nonviolence was their only choice)? I’d appreciate any insight or information on the matter.
Answer:
There has not been a mass movement, even the Indian freedom struggle, in which we could say that in general ‘the people’ involved were committed to principled nonviolence. It’s a matter of degree within each person. In the case of the Berlin Wall coming down, the demonstrations in Leipzig that led up to that event were started by members of the local Lutheran community, who advocated nonviolence from a position of religious conviction. This relatively small group persistently held the prayerful “Monday Demonstrations,” and were gradually joined by others—conscientious objectors, environmental activists, those organizing around human rights issues—groups who were socially and politically engaged and who resonated with the underlying nonviolent principles, even if they didn’t necessarily share in that particular religious perspective. The demonstrations continued for months until they eventually reached a tipping point when they were joined by masses of people who were attracted to a viable nonviolent resistance movement against the GDR. As is the case in many nonviolent movements, those who joined, particularly those who joined towards the end of the movement, may not have taken part out of any deep commitment to nonviolence itself, but because it was “the only game in town.” It is also the case, however, that the participation of the masses was precipitated by—and therefore impossible without—the comparatively smaller group of trailblazers who were pursuing nonviolence on a principled basis, setting the example that made the experiment possible.
-
By: Metta Center
We provide educational resources on the safe and effective use of nonviolence, with the recognition that it’s not about putting the right person in power but awakening the right kind of power in people. We advance a higher image of humankind while empowering people to explore the question: How does nonviolence work, and how can I actively contribute to a happier, more peaceful society?
-
-
Nonviolence Lifeline
A Palestinian’s Journey to Nonviolence
2021 Certificate Program
Cosmic Peaceforce SpaceMeet
Nonviolence Radio April 9, 2021
Hi I´m from Sweden and I agree with the answer above, in additon to that I have read and seen a documentary recently with former DDR-soldiers who described what happened the last days. They were given orders to protect the borders by all means still when they finally met the freedom seeking people at the border they mostly refused to use violence. If they hadn´t disobeyed their orders the question remains what would have happened.
I think the sheer number of east germans who went out on the streets were a very strong factor why it worked out the way it did. For almost fifty year this people had the possibility to get information about the west through tv and radio. An informed people can´t be stopped even in the face of repression and violence when it reaches a certain momentum. Still as mentioned above there were corageous people who went ahead. I can recommend the escape museum next to the old checkpoint Charlie in Berlin.