Nonviolence versus capitalism

It may seem that capitalism, state socialism and social democracy are very different, but they all rely on the power of the state and hence, ultimately, on violence for control of society. Capitalism relies on state power to protect private property, state socialism relies on state power to run both the economic and political system and social democracy relies on state power to manage the economy. So at a deep level — the level of power for social control, and the ultimate reliance on violence — these three approaches have much in common.

Nonviolent action offers another road, with the potential to be a radical challenge to capitalism without relying on state power. There are hundreds of methods of nonviolent action, including leafletting, strikes, boycotts, marches, sit-ins, refusals to obey and setting up alternative institutions. These methods have been used extensively in all sorts of settings. The most well known are the campaigns for Indian independence led by Gandhi. Here is a list of some of the most often cited highlights of nonviolent action from 1900 onwards.

• Resistance to Russian domination in Finland, 1899-1904.

• Collapse of the Kapp Putsch, a military coup in Germany, 1920.

• German resistance to the French-Belgian occupation of the Ruhr, 1923.

• Gandhi’s campaigns in India, 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

• Toppling of 10 military dictatorships in South and Central America, 1930s to 1950s.

• Resistance in several European countries to the Nazi occupation, 1940-1945.

• US civil rights movement, 1950s and 1960s.

• Sarvodaya campaigns in India and Sri Lanka, 1950s onwards.

• Collapse of the Algerian Generals’ Revolt, 1961.

• Czechoslovak resistance to the Soviet invasion, 1968.

• The Iranian revolution, 1978-1979.

• Direct action against nuclear power in various countries, 1970s onwards.

• Campaigns against logging, large dams, freeways and on other environmental issues, 1970s onwards.

• People power in the Philippines to bring down the Marcos dictatorship, 1986.

• Palestinian intifada, 1987-1993.

• Prodemocracy movement in China, 1989.

• Collapse of East European regimes, 1989.

• Thwarting of a coup in the Soviet Union, 1991.

• Elimination of apartheid in South Africa, early 1990s.

• Forced resignation of Indonesian President Suharto, 1998.

• Removal of Serbian ruler Milosevich, 2000.

These are all examples of major challenges to aggression, repression and oppression carried out largely or entirely without violence (though of course violence is often used against nonviolent activists). These events include resistance to military invasion, toppling of repressive regimes and challenges to oppressive social systems or hazardous practices. A number of social movements, notably the feminist and environmental movements, have made nonviolent action an integral part of their campaigning.

But what about nonviolent action against capitalism? A look down this list reveals that not a single one of these highly prominent actions is specifically targeted against capitalism.

Actually, there has been an enormous range of nonviolent action against aspects of capitalism — just not usually at the dramatic level of the above examples.[1] For example:

workers’ direct action against employers, such as strikes, boycotts, work-to-rule and factory occupations, to obtain better pay and conditions or a greater say in decision making;

workers’ control and cooperatives, providing alternatives to capitalist ownership and management;

environmental movement campaigns against damaging industries, harmful products and new industrial developments;

local campaigns against commercial developments (often linked to campaigns elsewhere);

squatting in unoccupied buildings as a means of exposing and challenging private control over housing;

global campaigns against agencies and arrangements extending the power of capital, such as campaigns against the World Bank and the Multilateral Agreement on Investment;

direct action against genetically engineered crops.

As well as these initiatives that challenge aspects of capitalism, a close look at just about any aspect of capitalist society will reveal challenges using nonviolent action. Consider advertising, a crucial part of consumerism and the commodity-based culture. Responses have included rejection of advertising messages (as in “no junk mail” signs on mail boxes), campaigns against particular styles of advertising, and the creative defacing of billboards.