198 METHODS OF NONVIOLENT PROTEST AND

PERSUASION
by Gene Sharp
FORMAL STATEMENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Public speeches
Letters of opposition or support
Declarations by organizations and institutions
Signed public declarations
Declarations of indictment and intention
Group or mass petitions

COMMUNICATIONS WITH A WIDER AUDIENCE

7. Slogans, caricatures, and symbols
8. Banners, posters, and displayed communications
9. Leaflets, pamphlets, and books
10. Newspapers and journals
11. Records, radio, and television
12. Skywriting and earthwriting

GROUP REPRESENTATIONS
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

Deputations
Mock awards
Group lobbying
Picketing
Mock elections

SYMBOLIC PUBLIC ACTS

18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

Displays of flags and symbolic colors

Wearing of symbols
Prayer and worship
Delivering symbolic objects
Protest disrobings
Destruction of own property
Symbolic lights
Displays of portraits
Paint as protest
New signs and names
Symbolic sounds
Symbolic reclamations
Rude gestures

PRESSURES ON INDIVIDUALS
31. "Haunting" officials

32. Taunting officials

33. Fraternization
34. Vigils

DRAMA AND MUSIC

35. Humorous skits and pranks
36. Performances of plays and music
37. Singing

PROCESSIONS
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.

Marches
Parades
Religious processions
Pilgrimages
Motorcades

HONORING THE DEAD

43.
44.
45.
46.

Political mourning
Mock funerals
Demonstrative funerals
Homage at burial places

PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES
47.
48.
49.
50.

Assemblies of protest or support

Protest meetings
Camouflaged meetings of protest
Teach-ins

WITHDRAWAL AND RENUNCIATION

51.
52.
53.
54.

Walk-outs
Silence
Renouncing honours
Turning one's back

THE METHODS OF SOCIAL NONCOOPERATION

OSTRACISM OF PERSONS
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.

Social boycott
Selective social boycott
Lysistratic nonaction
Excommunication
Interdict

NONCOOPERATION WITH SOCIAL EVENTS, CUSTOMS, AND

INSTITUTIONS
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.

Suspension of social and sports activities

Boycott of social affairs
Student strike
Social disobedience
Withdrawal from social institutions

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SOCIAL SYSTEM

65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.

Stay-at-home
Total personal noncooperation
"Flight" of workers
Sanctuary
Collective disappearance
Protest emigration (hijrat)

ECONOMIC NONCOOPERATION
ACTION BY CONSUMERS
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.

Consumers' boycott
Nonconsumption of boycotted goods
Policy of austerity
Rent withholding
Refusal to rent
National consumers' boycott
International consumers' boycott

ACTION BY WORKERS AND PRODUCERS

78. Workers' boycott
79. Producers' boycott

ACTION BY MIDDLE-PEOPLE
80. Suppliers' and handlers' boycott

ACTION BY OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

81.
82.
83.
84.
85.

Traders' boycott
Refusal to let or sell property
Lockout
Refusal of industrial assistance
Merchants' "general strike"

ACTION BY HOLDERS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES

86. Withdrawal of bank deposits
87. Refusal to pay fees, dues, and assessments
88. Refusal to pay debts or interest

89. Severance of funds and credit

90. Revenue refusal
91. Refusal of a government's money

ACTION BY GOVERNMENTS
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.

Domestic embargo
Blacklisting of traders
International sellers' embargo
International buyers' embargo
International trade embargo

THE METHODS OF ECONOMIC

NONCOOOPERATION
SYMBOLIC STRIKES
97. Protest strike
98. Quickie walkout (lightning strike)

AGRICULTURAL STRIKES
99. Peasant strike
100. Farm workers' strike

STRIKES BY SPECIAL GROUPS

101.
102.
103.
104.

Refusal of impressed labor

Prisoners' strike
Craft strike
Professional strike

ORDINARY INDUSTRIAL STRIKES

105. Establishment strike
106. Industry strike
107. Sympathy strike

RESTRICTED STRIKES
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.

Detailed strike
Bumper strike
Slowdown strike
Working-to-rule strike
Reporting "sick." (sick-in)
Strike by resignation
Limited strike
Selective strike

MULTI-INDUSTRY STRIKES
116. Generalised strike
117. General strike

COMBINATION OF STRIKES AND ECONOMIC CLOSURES

118. Hartal
119. Economic shutdown

THE METHODS OF POLITICAL

NONCOOPERATION
REJECTION OF AUTHORITY
120. Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance
121. Refusal of public support
122. Literature and speeches advocating resistance

CITIZENS' NONCOOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT

123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.

Boycott of legislative bodies

Boycott of elections
Boycott of government employment and positions
Boycott of government departments, agencies, and other bodies
Withdrawal from governmental educational institutions
Boycott of government-supported institutions
Refusal of assistance to enforcement agents
Removal of own signs and placemarks
Refusal to accept appointed officials
Refusal to dissolve existing institutions

CITIZENS' ALTERNATIVES TO OBEDIENCE

133.
134.
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141.

Reluctant and slow compliance

Nonobedience in absence of direct supervision
Popular nonobedience
Disguised disobedience
Refusal of an assemblage or meeting to disperse
Sitdown
Noncooperation with conscription and deportation
Hiding, escape, and false identities
Civil disobedience of "illegitimate" laws

ACTION BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL

142.
143.
144.
145.
146.

Selective refusal of assistance by government aides

Blocking of lines of command and information
Stalling and obstruction
General administrative noncooperation
Judicial noncooperation

147. Deliberate inefficiency and selective noncooperation by enforcement

agents
148. Mutiny

DOMESTIC GOVERNMENTAL ACTION

149. Quasi-legal evasions and delays
150. Noncooperation by constituent governmental units

INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ACTION

151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.

Changes in diplomatic and other representation

Delay and cancellation of diplomatic events
Withholding of diplomatic recognition
Severance of diplomatic relations
Withdrawal from international organizations
Refusal of membership in international bodies
Expulsion from international organisations

THE METHODS OF NONVIOLENT INTERVENTION

PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION
158.
159.
160.
161.

Self-exposure to the elements

The fast (fast of moral pressure, hunger strike, satyagrahic fast)
Reverse trial
Nonviolent harassment

PHYSICAL INTERVENTION
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
171.
172.
173.

Sit-in
Stand-in
Ride-in
Wade-in
Mill-in
Pray-in
Nonviolent
Nonviolent
Nonviolent
Nonviolent
Nonviolent
Nonviolent

raids
air raids
invasion
interjection
obstruction
occupation

SOCIAL INTERVENTION
174.
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.

Establishing new social patterns

Overloading of facilities
Stall-in
Speak-in
Guerrilla theatre
Alternative social institutions

180. Alternative communication system

ECONOMIC INTERVENTION
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.

Reverse strike
Stay-in strike
Nonviolent land seizure
Defiance of blockades
Politically motivated counterfeiting
Preclusive purchasing
Seizure of assets
Dumping
Selective patronage
Alternative markets
Alternative transportation systems
Alternative economic institutions

POLITICAL INTERVENTION
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
198.

Overloading of administrative systems

Disclosing identities of secret agents
Seeking imprisonment
Civil disobedience of "neutral" laws
Work-on without collaboration
Dual sovereignty and parallel government

This is available in Gene Sharp's book: "The Politics of Nonviolent

Action", available fromThe War Resisters League, 339 Layfayette St.
New York, N.Y. 10004 (212) 228-0450 for $13.25, including postage.