The Nature and Meanings of Nonviolent Direct Action: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Using a minimal, consensual definition of nonviolence, and drawing from the case listing by Sharp (1973), this study factor analyses 72 actual cases of nonviolent direct action. Fifty-nine variables are employed that measure characteristics of the actors and objects (e.g. their number, organization, leadership, etc.), the situation (e.g. the political system, population, wealth, etc. of the country in which the case took place), the action (e.g. any training, the techniques used by both actor and object, etc.) and the outcomes, in terms of associated violence and success in realization of objectives. Twelve nearly orthogonal first-order dimensions were interpreted, while six second-order factors were also examined in both the R and Q matrices. Nondemocratic conditions emerged as the single largest contribution to the patterns. Based on the delineation of characteristic (R) and case (Q) groupings, typologies of nonviolence and nonviolent direct action advocates were offered. In addition, three hypothetical perspectives on nonviolence were noted as the discussion shifted from a focus on (nonviolent) methods to (democratic) processes of conflict resolution.