Erica Chenoweth
Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment
Civil Resistance
The Ash Center examines how civil resistance harnesses nonviolent collective action to challenge injustice, drive democratic change, and inform research on strengthening institutions and promoting accountability.
Related Programs
Civil resistance refers to the use of nonviolent methods—such as protests, strikes, boycotts, and organized noncooperation—to challenge injustice, defend rights, and advance democratic change. Grounded in collective action and strategic organization, civil resistance movements have shaped political and social transformations across the globe.
Our scholars research on civil resistance explore how civic mobilization strengthens institutions, promotes accountability, and contributes to more inclusive and resilient democracies.
Meet The Experts
Matthew Cebul
Lead Research Fellow for the Nonviolent Action Lab, AY2025-2026
Soha Hammam
Research Project Manager, Nonviolent Action Lab
Christopher Shay
Research Associate, Crowd Counting Consortium
Policy Brief
Why Gen-Z Is Rising
Erica Chenoweth and Matthew Cebul analyze the global surge of Gen Z-led protest movements, showing how economic insecurity, exclusion from power, and corruption are driving youth mobilization worldwide.