The success of activism depends on the balance between how broad your cause might be and the small battles you can win. This chapter draws the lessons from four world-renowned examples of such successes.
The Demons of Violence
“My biggest objection to violence stems from the fact that it simply doesn’t work, or doesn’t work nearly as well as nonviolent resistance.” (Srdja Popovic)
See the Big Picture
“All the world’s a stage,” said Shakespeare. Along with a new role for Market and State, new characters such as Household, Commons, Society, and Earth are required on stage in the 21st-century economics’ play.
Everything Is Connected
Natural sciences regularly provide new data showing that the world exists as an interconnected system. This lays the ground for a post-capitalist ethic, reflected in the long-ignored wisdom of indigenous people.
The Almighty Pillars of Power
“Whether you want to get the villagers on your side against a bloodthirsty dictator or force McDonald’s to add healthy options to the dollar menu, you have to know which pillars you need to jostle.” (Srdja Popovic)
The Dynamics of the Archaic
Since the Ronald Reagan years, there is objective collusion in U.S. politics between religious archaism and market fundamentalism. How did this dynamic come to be and what makes it so powerful?