Civil resistance is a broad technique of struggle that includes all kinds of different methods

of nonviolent action, including sometimes civil disobedience.

Civil disobedience is a particular method where the idea is basically to deliberately break

a law that one fuses unjust in order to then publicly suffer the sacrifice of breaking it.

And so John Lewis engaged in civil disobedience and went to prison for it.

But people who live a life of nonviolent struggle the way that John Lewis did, they make a lot of sacrifices.

And they understand, too, that there's a purpose to the sacrifice, that the sacrifice can be useful to them and to the movement and trying to dramatize the injustice that they are facing.

That's Erica Chenoweth, and this is Alternative Radio.

I'm David Barsamian. This edition of AR features Erica Chenoweth

on nonviolent civil disobedience. As Jesse Jackson advised, when we act out of fear rather than hope,

we get bitter rather than better. Nonviolent civil disobedience gives us hope.

At a time when people protesting are taking to the streets in greater and greater numbers,

civil disobedience is an effective tool of resistance. It was used by Gandhi, Dr. King, Bishop Tutu, and

others. From India to South Africa to Alabama, civil disobedience worked. Unjust laws are challenged

and are rolled back. But it's not easy. Resisters pay a price,

imprisonment, financial penalties, beatings, even death, but all the while occupy the moral

high ground and strive to build the beloved community.

Our guest today is Erica Chenoweth.

She teaches at Harvard's Kennedy School, where she directs the nonviolent action lab at the

Car Center for Human Rights Policy.

Professor Chenoweth spoke at the first congregational church in Boulder, Colorado,

in February. And now, Erica Chenowith.

...