From Protest to Project: Nonviolent Cultural Revolution for the 21st Century

Abstract Nonviolence has risen in prominence in academia due to its power to overthrow dictators, fight corruption, and inspire change. However, certain issues surrounding the predominant definitions of nonviolence have yet to be fully explored. This paper opens this Pandora’s box, offering an alternative definition of nonviolence capable of reconciling an extremely fragmented field of research. It reinterprets the term as a social and political school of thought dating back to the twentieth century, at the core of which lies a strong belief in the interrelatedness of life, a conception of power, and an open project of omnicracy. Ultimately, this paper discusses the opportunities presented in future research and action by re-conceptualizing nonviolence.