Satyagraha (Nonviolent Resistance)
Some guidelines and principles for satyagraha include:
You’re concerned about the well-being of your opponent
Never resort to the wrong means (i.e. humiliation)
If you stay true to your cause, it does not matter how many people are involved (Gandhi’s “law of progression” — one person can change the world)
You have to be willing to take on suffering to move the heart of an opponent (“law of suffering”)
Proportionality and timing are important—be strategic (don’t escalate too quickly, and don’t stick to certain tactics if they are no longer being effective)
No fresh issue — don’t start throwing in new demands if you have the upper hand
Non-embarrassment — never try to humiliate your opponent, or take advantage of your opponent if they are weak
There are many examples of nonviolent resistance that we can look to for understanding how satyagraha works, such as:
The Indian Freedom Struggle
The US civil rights movement
The Philippines People Power movement
The Serbian Otpor! movement
Arab Spring