Because we live in an interdependent and interconnected world, those in power -- be they corporations, governments, or institutions -- depend on our cooperation and assistance to maintain their power. The power of nonviolent action arises from the fact that we can both refuse them our support, and actively impede their harmful behavior.
Of course, governments, corporations, and institutions have access to various forms of repression to harm those who oppose them; they can run smear campaigns that incite hatred and violence towards activists, initiate lawsuits against activists, arrest and imprison activists, and more.
Defining Political Jiu-Jitsu
Thankfully, campaigners can use the tactic nonviolent strategist Gene Sharp calls "political jiu-jitsu" (some also refer to it as “backfire” or “the paradox of repression”). Political jiu-jitsu uses our opponent's repression to undermine their sources of power while building our own. Jiu-jitsu is a martial art that uses the attacker's force against themselves, which means the attacker's greater size and strength become a disadvantage to them.
Political jiu-jitsu operates on the same principle and occurs when we bravely, nonviolently, and lovingly endure unjust and/or violent repression.
Cruelties committed against loving and kind people appear reprehensible, inhuman, and monstrous to most people. Outraged by our opponent’s repressive attacks, those who learn of it withdraw their support from the violent opposition, and shift it towards the campaigners. This helps us create mass movements of nonviolent noncooperation with those who do harm.
The US Civil Rights Movement Effectively Utilized Political Jiu-Jitsu
During the U.S. civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s, people read the stories and watched on TV how nonviolent demonstrators—often singing freedom songs, or peacefully kneeling in prayer—were blasted down streets with high-pressure water hoses, attacked by police dogs, verbally and physically accosted by mobs of segregationists, or jailed for kindly breaking unjust laws to fairly demand equal treatment and dignity under the law.
These scenes of repression against loving and nonviolent people triggered political jiu-jitsu. These repulsive acts of repression stirred the consciences of many US citizens, who ended up supporting civil rights activists, sending donations, and joining the civil rights movement. The more repression peaceful activists faced, the more their ranks and coffers swelled, and the more pressure was put on the government to create new laws, including:
• The 1964 Civil Rights Act, which banned segregation and employment discrimination.
• The 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibited literacy tests and other discriminatory practices in voting
• The 1968 Fair Housing Act, which banned discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of property.
Nonviolent Discipline is Needed for Political Jiu-Jitsu to Work
Political jiu-jitsu is one reason why maintaining nonviolent discipline is so important in nonviolent campaigns. Nonviolent discipline is the ability to remain courageous, nonviolent, compassionate, and kind in the face of verbal attacks, physical violence, and other kinds of repression.
This is why successful India-independence activist Mohandas Gandhi wrote, "I have found that mere appeal to reason does not answer where prejudices are age long and based on supposed religious authority. Reason has to be strengthened by suffering and suffering opens the eyes of understanding." The suffering he speaks of, is that repression we endure while remaining compassionate, kind, and loving which then triggers political jiu-jitsu.
Do We Want Repression to Work For Us or Against Us?
Alternately, if we don't maintain nonviolent discipline, we still endure the repression, but we don't gain the benefits of political jiu-jitsu. If we respond to repression with hatred, self-righteousness, hostility, or cowardice, people question our motives and ignore the moral, logical, and rational force of our arguments. People who do not want their consciences roused, will look for any excuse to ignore our issue. They think: "A bottle was thrown at the police? Then the protesters were asking for the rubber bullets, teargas, and jail time they got."
If we are effective, we will face repression. So the question becomes: do we want our cause to benefit from the repression we face, or not? If we do, then we need to maintain nonviolent discipline to trigger the tactic of political jiu-jitsu.
Factors That Increase Political Jiu-Jitsu's Effectiveness
Here are ways to amplify the power of the repression we receive to change people's hearts and minds.
• Media Coverage: Invite the media to your events where repression is likely to occur and have your own people document the event with photos and videos to share on social media. If the larger public doesn't know what happened, they can’t be moved and transformed by it.
• Suffer Courageously: Screaming "police brutality!" or "I know my rights!" while being arrested can be interpreted as staged, inauthentic, and fearful, and rarely sways the public. Courageously enduring repression shows our sincerity, integrity, and fearlessness and gains respect from the public and even many reluctant opponents.
• Relatability: Practicing good hygiene, dressing respectably, and maintaining conservative hair styles goes a long way in helping the public, and our opponents, find us more relatable. Be as relatable as possible, but not at the expense of maintaining cultural integrity.
• Never Humiliate or Denigrate the Opponent: When we use psychological hostility, we will likely be seen as arrogant and self-righteous, causing people to become defensive and less willing to consider our position.
• Engage in Constructive Service: Engaging in humanitarian efforts necessary for the common good demonstrates the sincerity of our love and social concern for all life.
• Relationship Building: Frequent, respectful, personal contact with our opponents and the public makes it harder for them to vilify us or mentally distance themselves from us.
• Hold individuals personally accountable for their actions: Company employees, police, and the public frequently surrender their personal responsibility to some higher authority -- be it their boss, the law, or societal norms. We need to hold each individual accountable for their own actions and their role in perpetuating the harm.
• Empathy for Our Opponents: Having goodwill and understanding for our opposition's situation helps us communicate our lack of personal hostility for them, avoid actions that will antagonize them, and find solutions that serve all people, all beings and all life.
• Demonstrating Trust in Our Opponent: At times, having high expectations of our opponents helps encourage them to live up to those expectations. If they abuse our trust, it makes them look underhanded and cowardly to themselves and the public. This factor must be applied strategically, and is not appropriate in all circumstances.
Look For, Know, and Experience Political Jiu-Jitsu in Action
As nonviolent activists, we need to teach each other the concept of political jiu-jitsu. We need to be on the lookout for political jiu-jitsu happening on both a macro and micro level, and then share these examples with each other.
When activists see, know, and experience the power of political jiu-jitsu, they become inspired and willing to bravely endure the repression while maintaining nonviolent discipline. They now know with confidence that suffering is the price they need to pay to help liberate those they love from the chains of oppression: be they humans, animals, ecosystems, or our planet's climate.
May your efforts to create peace, justice, and freedom for all be wildly successful.