Parallel institutions are one of the most crucial forms of constructive program. They are the social, cultural, and governance structures that a nonviolent movement builds of its own accord without reference to or even as a comprehensive replacement for the often oppressive existing institutions. Examples include: alternative governments, media, unions, agriculture, clubs, professional associations, civic organizations,… read more
Posts by Metta Center
International Fellowship of Reconciliation
Henry Hodgkin, a British Quaker and Friedrich Siegmund-Schultze a German chaplain to the Kaiser founded The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) on the eve of World War I. These men refused to let the impending hostilities threaten their friendship. Their Christian opposition to war and desire to build a new and better world launched the… read more
Interpretation
Interpretation is when nonviolent actors assist the media by explaining nonviolence, nonviolent events, and nonviolent social movements. Nonviolent actors must interpret their actions to the media, by explaining exactly what happened and its significance so that the chances of public sympathy with the goals of the nonviolent movement are increased. For example, without the interpretation… read more
Nonviolent Moment
Coined by Yehudhah Mirsky, a nonviolent moment is a climactic event in a campaign when all of the resistors’ forces are pitted against all of the oppressor’s forces in an open confrontation. The oppressor has two choices: escalate the oppression in a way that is repugnant to the rest of humanity, or back down and… read more
Shantidas
A Sicilian, also known as “Lanza del Vasto,” who worked with Gandhi and was granted the name “servant of peace.” He attempted to organize a Gandhian ashram-like community in 1948, and was finally successful in his efforts to start a self-sufficient community in 1963 known as “La Communauté de l’Arche” at la Borrie Noble. In… read more
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
At the height of the Philippines People Power movement in 1986, approximately two million people converged on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Manila to protest a stolen election. This was the culmination of years of training, strategy, preparation, and consciousness-raising by and among the Philippine people, including the consultation of outside experts such as Hildegard… read more
Law of Suffering
The Law of Suffering was defined by Mahatma Gandhi as the necessity of the nonviolent actor to voluntarily endure suffering as a mechanism for transforming an opponent. The law rests on Gandhi’s observation that, “Real suffering bravely borne melts even a heart of stone. Such is the potency of suffering or tapas. And there lies… read more
Law of Progression
Mahatma Gandhi defined the Law of Progression during his early years in South Africa. In his own words: “My experience has taught me that a law of progression applies to every righteous struggle. But in the case of Satyagraha the law amounts to an axiom. As the Ganga advances, other streams flow into it … .… read more
Coercion vs. Persuasion
Coercion vs. persuasion is a term used to compare tactics. It is the description of two possible means to an end. Ideally, nonviolence works by opening the heart of the opponent, in other words, by persuading them to voluntarily change their belief or action. Coercion on the other hand, employs threat power so that one… read more
“Work” vs. Work
The distinction, “work” vs. work is necessary to stress that the beneficial results of nonviolent action often lie in the future. “Work” means the immediate and obvious effects, while work without quotes designates the resulting underlying and fundamental shifts brought about by nonviolence. In other words, it means not “got what we wanted,” “does good… read more
