In the early hours of this morning I took part in a fantastic Kennedy School webinar on Leading Nonviolent Social Movements. I have often thought that educators could benefit from a greater understanding of leading social change.

The webinar covered the methods and tactics of nonviolent action and the introduction mentioned Rosa Parks, Martin Luther’s theses, the US civil rights movement, PETA nude protests against fur, and Greenpeace climate change campaigns.

The following are my notes:

Categories of nonviolent change include slogans, protests, petitions, flyers, obstruction of work, symbols, protest songs, demonstrations, symbolic mass actions, social ostracism, withdrawing funds, stay at home interventions, sit-ins, occupying, picketing, and civil disobedience.

Organisers should start small but think big. Concentration tactics versus dispersion tactics, high risk versus low risk. With dispersion tactics anyone can take part, even a 7 year old kid.

Use humour. Add a cool factor. Laughtervism

Pick the battles you can win. People join successful things.

The power of personal example.

Social media changed the landscape but clicktivism is a problem. You don’t change the world by sitting in front of a computer.

Make a clear distinction between your movement and any violent movement.

Consider multiple levels of actors in the system, not only the person at the top. Impact the causal chain. Think of packages of tactics. Be creative.