Nonviolent Action Lab

Understanding how nonviolent action can achieve democratic aims.

Nonviolent resistance movements defended democratic values and institutions throughout the 20th century and into the 21st. However, the trend seems to have shifted. Over the past decade, authoritarian backsliding has occurred across the globe, and mass movements demanding democracy have been defeated in about 90% of cases since 2010.

The Nonviolent Action Lab is an innovation hub for activists, researchers, and supporters who share common goals around defending and advancing democracy worldwide through civil resistance — protests, demonstrations, and other actions. The Lab produces and disseminates up-to-date knowledge on nonviolent action, how it works, and global trends in success and failure.

“Authoritarianism is winning — particularly against pro-democracy movements. Movements need a new playbook for responding to these developments

Erica Chenoweth

Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment

Now Streaming: Nonviolent Action Lab Podcast

The new Nonviolent Action Lab Podcast brings you the latest research, insights, and ideas on how nonviolent action can — or sometimes fails — to transform injustice. Each week, Nonviolent Action Lab’s Jay Ulfelder welcomes experts from the field, scholars, organizers, and advocates to discuss nonviolent movements around the world. Find new episodes listed below, via Simplecast, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Listen Now

Meet the Team


Erica Chenoweth

Erica Chenoweth

Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment

Freddy Guevara
Headshot of Freddy Guevara

Freddy Guevara

Democracy Visiting Fellow, AY2024-2025

Soha Hammam
Headshot of Soha Hammam

Soha Hammam

Nonviolent Action Lab Research Associate

Jay Ulfelder

Jay Ulfelder

Research Project Manager, Nonviolent Action Lab

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Crowd Counting Consortium: Contours of the George Floyd Uprising
A memorial mural to George Floyd

Commentary

Crowd Counting Consortium: Contours of the George Floyd Uprising

Just how large and broad was that wave of protests after the death of George Floyd? How destructive was it? And how did police and right-wing counter-protesters respond to it?