UNDERSTANDING NONVIOLENCE
FROM TACTICAL NONVIOLENCE TO SATYAGRAHA
By Mark Shepard
What exactly do we mean when we say we're committed to nonviolence?
Unfortunately, different people mean different things and are often not even aware
of the differences.
The purposes of this piece are to give an idea of the range of meanings possible,
to improve our ability to identify the types of commitment we encounter, and to
stimulate our thinking on what we mean by nonviolence.
The characteristics of a nonviolent commitment can be classified in two general
areas: the definition of nonviolence itself, and the type of commitment given.
Definition of Nonviolence
1. Scope of the definition. Does the prohibited violence include physical vio-
lence only? Or does it also include psychological violence (such as name-call-
ing or isolation)?
2. Attitude toward the opponent. Is there an attitude of antagonism, in which
the opponent is seen as an enemy? Or is there active caring for the opponent,
with their welfare considered?
3. Intent of action. Is it to force the opponent to make changes against their
will (coercion)? Or to change the opponent's mind and win them over to the
other side (conversion)? Or something in between those two?
Nature of the Commitment
1. Extent of the commitment. Does it apply only to certain situations and occa-
sions? Or is nonviolence seen as preferable to violence generally? Or is vio-
lence unconditionally renounced in all circumstances?
2. Motivation. Is the commitment to nonviolence based on expediency--supe-
rior force of the opponent, lack of weapons, and so on? Or on
practical/humanitarian grounds--saying that relative human costs and
results of nonviolent action make it a basically superior method? Or is the
commitment based on a moral/ethical/religious principle?
P e a c e b u i l d i n g i n E v e r y d a y L i f e
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Types of Nonviolent Commitment
Using the parameters above, we can identify two fundamental types of nonvio-
lent commitment, which can be seen as the ends of a spectrum.
At one end is what has been called tactical nonviolence. People committed in this
way generally prohibit only physical violence, may hold antagonism toward the
opponent, and seek to win their goals by coercion. Their commitment is generally
limited to individual actions or campaigns and stems from expediency. A good
example is a labor strike.
At the other end is Satyagraha (SOT-yah-GRAH-hah), or Gandhian nonviolence.
This is characterized by prohibition of both physical and psychological violence,
active caring toward the opponent, and the intention to convert. Commitment to
nonviolence is unconditional and is based both on principle and on
practical/humanitarian considerations.
As a whole, the nonviolence movement in the United States has stood some-
where in between these poles, being a hodge-podge of individuals with varying
beliefs, often not fully conscious. This has often led to confusion and dissension
when devising and carrying out strategy and tactics. By knowing where everyone
stands, such differences can be dealt with and possibly resolved.
What About You?
What does nonviolence mean to you? What is your commitment like?
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First written in 1978 for the Nonviolence Training Collective of People Against Nuclear
Power, San Francisco, California. Revised in 1998 and 2001. No copyright is claimed--
please reproduce! For more resources, visit Mark Shepard's Gandhi Page at
www.markshep.com/nonviolence.
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