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United States Institute of Peace

Civil Resistance: The Dynamics of Nonviolent Movements (Instructor-Led)

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Civil resistance movements have and continue to shape political, social and economic change across the globe. As peacebuilders, understanding the role of nonviolent movements throughout history as well as the ones that currently exist today will help us understand one of the most effective ways of mitigating conflict nonviolently. At USIP, we believe that conflict is inevitable, but it does not have to be violent. Civil resistance and nonviolent movements are powerful examples of this. This course is for those with a keen interest in how ordinary people are transforming conflicts through nonviolent action. Those enrolled can earn a certification of participation upon completing the course.

Civil resistance takes place across the world. At a grassroots movement in Kenya, people gather in a crowd to protest human rights abuses. (Photo: Flickr/Creative Commons)
Civil resistance takes place across the world. At a grassroots movement in Kenya, people gather in a crowd to protest human rights abuses. (Photo: Flickr/Creative Commons)

Learning Objectives

  • Learn from a diverse set of activists, scholars, and practitioners through stories, research, and exercises.
  • Transform how they analyze and think about conflict – its value, mode, and outcomes.
  • Engage with a growing community of learners and experts enrolled in the course through a continuous series of live, interactive, and collaborative online events.
  • Co-Create new knowledge and insights to enhance and update the course as the field evolves.

Instructor-led Delivery

USIP’s new instructor-led format blends a self-paced curriculum with weekly live, interactive webinars. Enrolled participants will join a group of fellow learners from around the world. Each week will feature a new lesson that includes a real-world case study, a skills-building exercise, and small group discussions. A new course is offered each month and is four weeks in duration. The course is open to the public and is free of charge. Certificates of participation are awarded at the conclusion of the course.

Description

  • Weekly Self-Paced Curriculum: Learn at your own pace and schedule through carefully curated self-guided curriculum and instructional videos.
  • Weekly Live Webinars: Every week, a USIP expert or guest lecturer will host a country case study, a facilitated exercise, and small group discussions.
  • Group-Based: Join and learn alongside other participants from around the world. 
  • Practical Case Studies: Develop skills through real-world exercises and small group discussions.
  • Certificates: Receive a certificate of participation at the conclusion of a course.

Weekly Webinar Schedule

Join USIP’s Nonviolent Action program for three weeks of live instructor-led webinars covering the following topics:

September 6, 2024 – Introduction to Nonviolent Action: Historical & Theoretical Foundations, 9:00am – 10:15am EDT

September 13, 2024 - Nonviolent Movements: Formation and Planning, 9:00am – 10:15am EDT

September 20, 2024 - Methods of Nonviolent Action, 9:00am – 10:15am EDT

Latest Publications

Why Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan Still Matters

Why Counterterrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan Still Matters

Thursday, May 9, 2024

By: Ambassador Anne Patterson; Tricia Bacon, Ph.D.; Ambassador P. Michael McKinley; Joshua White, Ph.D.; Brian Finucane, Ph.D.

From wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to rising tensions in the South China Sea, there is no shortage of crises to occupy the time and attention of U.S. policymakers. But three years after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the threat of terrorism emanating from South Asia remains strong and policymakers need to be more vigilant. Indeed, at the end of March, an Afghanistan-based affiliate of ISIS launched a devastating attack outside of Moscow, killing over 140 people.

Type: Question and Answer

Global Policy;  Violent Extremism

What Does the Xi-Ma Meeting Mean for Cross-Strait Relations?

What Does the Xi-Ma Meeting Mean for Cross-Strait Relations?

Thursday, May 9, 2024

By: Jennifer Staats, Ph.D.; Naiyu Kuo

Chinese leader Xi Jinping held talks on April 10 with former Taiwan president Ma Ying-Jeou in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. The meeting came as tensions between Beijing and Taipei remain high, particularly following Taiwan’s election at the beginning of the year, which saw pro-sovereignty candidate William Lai Ching-te win a historic third term for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Ma served as president from 2008 to 2016, is a member of the Nationalist (KMT) party and is known for advocating closer ties with mainland China.

Type: Question and Answer

Global Policy

A Livable Climate Needs Help From Youth; the U.S. Can Foster It

A Livable Climate Needs Help From Youth; the U.S. Can Foster It

Thursday, May 9, 2024

By: Elsa Barron; Katherine Waters

Humanity is at a tipping point. New data confirms 2023 as Earth’s hottest-ever recorded year. Increasing temperatures, rising seas and extreme weather are heightening tension over resources, damaging people’s health and livelihoods, and displacing millions. Young people have one of the largest stakes in climate decisions made today, for they face the lasting environmental consequences of climate change — and the consequent threats to peace and security. Yet youth remain mostly excluded from decision-making on climate. U.S. leadership, via three steps in particular, can bolster genuine youth leadership on climate that prioritizes the welfare of future generations.

Type: Analysis

Environment;  Youth

How Congress Can Help Improve Relations with North Korea

How Congress Can Help Improve Relations with North Korea

Thursday, May 9, 2024

By: Matthew Abbott

Although the Constitution authorizes the president and the executive branch to lead foreign affairs, it also vests the legislative branch with responsibilities that impact the conduct of diplomacy and statecraft. These include the ability to “declare war,” “raise and support armies,” “regulate commerce with foreign nations” and approve treaties and diplomat appointments, as well as general oversight functions and power to appropriate money from the Treasury.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy;  Peace Processes

International action on climate change is failing. How can it be strengthened?

International action on climate change is failing. How can it be strengthened?

Thursday, May 9, 2024

By: Tegan Blaine, Ph.D.; Dan Reifsnyder

After a record-breaking 2023, consolidated climate change science clearly shows that the earth’s temperature over the last 12 months was more than to 1.6oC above the pre-industrial average. This makes the most ambitious temperature goal of the Paris Agreement — holding the increase in global temperature below 2°C above pre-industrial levels — no longer scientifically feasible. Most estimates suggest that the increase will be 2.9oC or more by 2100. Meanwhile, international action under the Paris Agreement is faltering. “We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator,” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said two years ago.

Type: Analysis

Environment

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