{"id":298405,"date":"2025-07-14T12:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T11:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=298405"},"modified":"2025-07-12T09:04:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-12T08:04:32","slug":"positive-vs-negative-nonviolence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2025\/07\/positive-vs-negative-nonviolence\/","title":{"rendered":"Positive vs. Negative Nonviolence"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is much talk about nonviolence these days.\u00a0 Politicians and journalists get serious about the power that played a key role in ending colonialism (India) and the Cold War (Gdansk, Leipzig); unmentioned by Obama in his belligerent Nobel Peace Prize speech 2009.\u00a0 He would not have been president without the nonviolence of, say, the Freedom Riders[i]<\/a> against Anglo-Saxon brutality in the US South.\u00a0 But, there is nonviolence and nonviolence, as with most things, and the difference matters in theory and in practice.<\/p>\n

Both are forms of power.\u00a0 Negative nonviolence tries to stop the other side’s direct or structural violence whereas positive nonviolence tries to make the antagonist start being peaceful.\u00a0 Thus, negative nonviolence demands acts of omission–no more violence–and positive nonviolence invites acts of commission, for peace.<\/p>\n

Negative nonviolence includes all forms of action against, short of physical violence, like non-cooperation, civil disobedience, breaking laws, declaring and practicing autonomy.\u00a0 And positive nonviolence includes clearing the past through conciliation, the present through mediation of dangerous conflicts, and building a future through equitable participation in positive projects.\u00a0 They are not exclusive; a Gandhi, a Martin Luther King did both.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Obviously the two forms have abstention from direct physical violence in common.\u00a0 But whereas negative nonviolence includes violence like “rude gestures, taunting, haunting officials”[ii]<\/a>, the positive nonviolence insists on nonviolent speech and thought; beyond the psychological capacity of many.\u00a0 How can I be against them and for them at the same time?\u00a0 By seeing them as ambiguous.<\/p>\n

However, there are deeper differences in philosophy.<\/p>\n

Imagine a state using violence, war, external or internal, “civil”.\u00a0 There are five very different ways of responding.<\/p>\n

The first is to respond in kind and enter a war with three outcomes: A wins, B wins, stalemate (ceasefire, armistice, whether preparing for renewed hostilities or not).\u00a0 Second: guerrilla or terrorism, continuation of the war by less formal means.\u00a0 Third: negotiation, continuation of the war by verbal means.\u00a0 They all have something in common: a winner, a loser, or stalemate.<\/p>\n

And that also applies to the fourth, negative nonviolence.<\/p>\n

Everything is done to leave the powers that be with only one option: capitulation; whether in exile, in court, or as killed.\u00a0 Restricting social space to only one point is violence, under the guise of nonviolence.\u00a0 And behind that lurks the idea of the other side as intrinsically evil, to be incapacitated; not human.<\/p>\n

Enters, as fifth, Gandhi (and Frontier Gandhi<\/em>.[iii]<\/a>)\u00a0 The other side is not evil, but the conflict is.\u00a0 Do not fight, to coerce, but dialogue, to convert.\u00a0 Arne N\u00e6ss and this author identified gandhian norms for negative and positive<\/em> nonviolence, like[iv]<\/a>:<\/p>\n

N12<\/sub> Define the conflict well!<\/em><\/p>\n

N121<\/sub> State your own goal clearly!<\/em><\/p>\n

N122<\/sub> Try to understand your opponent’s goal!<\/em><\/p>\n

N123<\/sub> Emphasize common and compatible goals!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

N13<\/sub> Have a positive approach to conflict!<\/em><\/p>\n

N132<\/sub> See conflict as opportunity to meet the opponent!<\/em><\/p>\n

N133<\/sub> See conflict as opportunity to transform society!<\/em><\/p>\n

N134<\/sub> See conflict as opportunity to transform yourself!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

N25<\/sub> Do not polarize!<\/em><\/p>\n

N251<\/sub> Distinguish between antagonism and antagonist!<\/em><\/p>\n

N252<\/sub> Distinguish between person and status!<\/em><\/p>\n

N253<\/sub> Maintain contact!<\/em><\/p>\n

N254<\/sub> Empathize with your opponent’s position!<\/em><\/p>\n

N255<\/sub> Be flexible in defining parties and positions!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

N31<\/sub> Solve conflict!<\/em><\/p>\n

N311<\/sub> Do not continue conflict struggle forever!<\/em><\/p>\n

N312<\/sub> Always seek negotiation with the opponent!<\/em><\/p>\n

N313<\/sub> Seek positive social transformations!<\/em><\/p>\n

N314<\/sub> Seek human transformation of self and opponent!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

N35<\/sub> Conversion, not coercion!<\/em><\/p>\n

N351<\/sub> Seek solutions acceptable to self and opponent!<\/em><\/p>\n

N352<\/sub> Never coerce your opponent!<\/em><\/p>\n

N353<\/sub> Convert your opponent into a believer of the cause!<\/em><\/p>\n

Gandhian nonviolence covers negative and positive aspects. Self-immolation (Tunis), massive protests and demos, walking or not (Tahrir), belong; but seeing the opponent as somebody simply to be removed, by own will or not, is not gandhian.\u00a0 The gandhian approach is to remove autocracy and cleptocracy in favor of rule by the people, economy for the people by converting the autocrat-cleptocrat, not by coercing him.\u00a0 Readiness for dialogue is almost built into the word “gandhian”.\u00a0 When dialogue offers from a Gaddafi, an Assad, are rejected by the opposition demanding regime -person change, there is sloppy conflict analysis at work. \u00a0It smacks of a deep culture ever ready to issue certificates of evil.<\/p>\n

Eliminating a demonized leader is counted as victory, and to violent logic it is.\u00a0 But gandhian victory would be to arrive, through dialogue, at an acceptable outcome, not confusing persons with issues.\u00a0 An autocrat knows much about power, not only for himself, and a cleptocrat knows much about wealth, not only for himself.\u00a0 Make them work for a solution.\u00a0 If crimes have been committed, then the rule of law should prevail; but exchanging clemency for contrition, when possible, might be a wiser policy.<\/p>\n

Getting rid of the autocrat and-or cleptocrat may also create martyrs and harden their supporters.\u00a0 A vacancy at the top may be filled by equally violent people, also from the nonviolent side.\u00a0 And a new constitution may change institutions, not structures; like the imperial structures torturing the Arab-Muslim world.<\/p>\n

Just as the good aspects of Gaddafi(ism) and Assad(ism) should be retained, so also for Saddam Hussein and bin Laden.\u00a0 Killing them is no substitute for understanding something not paid attention to.\u00a0 Negative nonviolence is indispensable, but like violence, silences that other voice.\u00a0 Positive nonviolence is never afraid of dialogue and mutual learning.\u00a0 Use them both, hand in hand.<\/p>\n

NOTES:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

[i].\u00a0 See the excellent piece by one of them, Bernard Lafayette Jr., “The Freedom Riders”, IHT<\/em>, 21-22 May 2011.<\/p>\n

\n

[ii]<\/a>.\u00a0 Nos. 30-32 of 198 Weapons of Transformation<\/em>, distributed by Anwar Fazal (cizs@tm.nrt.my), from Gene Sharp, The Politics of Nonviolent Action<\/em>.\u00a0 Gene Sharp deserves credit for outstanding work to make such techniques well known, but is it nonviolence?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[iii]<\/a>.\u00a0 See Michael Shank, “Islam’s Nonviolent Tradition; History is replete with peaceful role models like the Frontier Gandhi of colonial India”, The Nation<\/em>, May 16, 2011.\u00a0 His name was Abdul Ghaffar Khan; this author actually met him, a giant.\u00a0 For an excellent review of a books on nonviolence–even if the distinction between negative and positive could have been more clear–see Brian Urquhart, “Revolution Without Violence”, NYRB<\/em>, March 10 , 2011 – the book being Adam Roberts and Timothy Garton Ash, Civil Resistance and Power Politics: The Experience of Nonviolent Action from Gandhi to the Present<\/em>, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[iv]<\/a>.\u00a0 54 norms are found on the cover pages of Johan Galtung, A Theory of Conflict<\/em>, TRANSCEND University Press, 2010 (www.transcend.org\/tup<\/a>); a third of them are in the text.<\/p>\n

____________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Originally published<\/a> on 27 Jun 2011 – #170<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> Johan Galtung (24 Oct 1930 \u2013 17 Feb 2024), a professor of peace studies, dr hc mult, was the founder of <\/em>TRANSCEND International<\/a>, <\/em>TRANSCEND <\/a>Media Service<\/a>, and rector of <\/em>TRANSCEND Peace University<\/a>. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize numerous times and was awarded among others the 1987 Right Livelihood Award, known as the Alternative NPP.<\/em> Galtung\u00a0has mediated in\u00a0over 150 conflicts in more than 150 countries, and written more than 170 books on peace and related issues<\/em>, 96 as the sole author. More than 40 have been translated to other languages, including <\/em>50 Years-100 Peace and Conflict Perspectives<\/a> published by <\/em>TRANSCEND University Press<\/a>. His book, <\/em>Transcend and Transform<\/a>, was translated to 25 languages<\/em>. He has published more than 1700 articles\u00a0and book\u00a0chapters and over 500 Editorials for <\/em>TRANSCEND Media Service<\/a>. More<\/em> information about Prof. Galtung<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>all of his publications<\/em><\/a> can be found at <\/em>transcend.org\/galtung<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Both are forms of power.\u00a0 Negative nonviolence tries to stop the other side’s direct or structural violence whereas positive nonviolence tries to make the antagonist start being peaceful.\u00a0 Thus, negative nonviolence demands acts of omission–no more violence–and positive nonviolence invites acts of commission, for peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[809,3522,472,444,1243,1779,2727,3479,3521,473],"class_list":["post-298405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial","tag-johan-galtung","tag-negative-nonviolence","tag-negative-peace","tag-nonviolence","tag-nonviolent-action","tag-nonviolent-communication","tag-nonviolent-journalism","tag-nonviolent-peaceforce","tag-positive-nonviolence","tag-positive-peace"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=298405"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":298408,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298405\/revisions\/298408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=298405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=298405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=298405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}