You've heard about Erica Chenoweth's groundbreaking research on nonviolent people's movements—how just 3.5% of the population engaging in sustained protest can topple an authoritarian regime. Join us at 3pm ET to talk with Erica about No Kings 10/17, and what we need to prepare for after that.
TODAY: We’re looking forward to chatting with our friend and famed social movements expert @chenoweth.bsky.social about the next No Kings on October 17, organizing to stop Trump’s election sabotage, and much more. Join us to submit your questions for Erica: www.mobilize.us/indivisible/...
September 24, 2026 at 2:16 PM
You've heard about Erica Chenoweth's groundbreaking research on nonviolent people's movements—how just 3.5% of the population engaging in sustained protest can topple an authoritarian regime. Join us at 3pm ET to talk with Erica about No Kings 10/17, and what we need to prepare for after that.
everyone should be revisiting Chenoweth’s work demonstrating the effectiveness of civil resistance
chenoweth's research seems to bear this out in a comparative and empirical way btw
www.amazon.com/Why-Civil-Re...
www.amazon.com/Why-Civil-Re...
Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict (Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare)
Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict (Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare) [Chenoweth, Erica, Stephan, Maria] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict (Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare)
www.amazon.com
February 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
everyone should be revisiting Chenoweth’s work demonstrating the effectiveness of civil resistance
What's next? Here's some information from Erica Chenoweth's research.
"...contemporary movements tend to over-rely on mass demonstrations while neglecting other techniques—such as general strikes and mass civil disobedience—that can more forcefully disrupt a regime’s stability."
"...contemporary movements tend to over-rely on mass demonstrations while neglecting other techniques—such as general strikes and mass civil disobedience—that can more forcefully disrupt a regime’s stability."
June 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
What's next? Here's some information from Erica Chenoweth's research.
"...contemporary movements tend to over-rely on mass demonstrations while neglecting other techniques—such as general strikes and mass civil disobedience—that can more forcefully disrupt a regime’s stability."
"...contemporary movements tend to over-rely on mass demonstrations while neglecting other techniques—such as general strikes and mass civil disobedience—that can more forcefully disrupt a regime’s stability."
Something tells me Kristin Chenoweth’s Charlie will be much better represented in clips today than Jack Posobiec’s.
September 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Something tells me Kristin Chenoweth’s Charlie will be much better represented in clips today than Jack Posobiec’s.
@pastorpauldrees.bsky.social
Breaks down Erica Chenoweth’s 3.5% rule and why it works to change political tides.
We’re just getting started. ✊🏼
Breaks down Erica Chenoweth’s 3.5% rule and why it works to change political tides.
We’re just getting started. ✊🏼
June 18, 2025 at 5:55 AM
@pastorpauldrees.bsky.social
Breaks down Erica Chenoweth’s 3.5% rule and why it works to change political tides.
We’re just getting started. ✊🏼
Breaks down Erica Chenoweth’s 3.5% rule and why it works to change political tides.
We’re just getting started. ✊🏼
The problem here is that these numbers seem aimed at getting people to think we've triggered Erica Chenoweth's 3.5% threshold, and yesterday-as awesome and impressive as it was-did not do that. But the replies are full of "we did it" victory laps, which feels premature and counterproductive.
June 15, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The problem here is that these numbers seem aimed at getting people to think we've triggered Erica Chenoweth's 3.5% threshold, and yesterday-as awesome and impressive as it was-did not do that. But the replies are full of "we did it" victory laps, which feels premature and counterproductive.
Did you know that peaceful protest is far more effective than the alternative?
Please watch & share this inspiring & incredibly important video from Erica Chenoweth's Ted Talk.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Please watch & share this inspiring & incredibly important video from Erica Chenoweth's Ted Talk.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
January 25, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Did you know that peaceful protest is far more effective than the alternative?
Please watch & share this inspiring & incredibly important video from Erica Chenoweth's Ted Talk.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Please watch & share this inspiring & incredibly important video from Erica Chenoweth's Ted Talk.
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
There are also many thoughtful critiques of Chenoweth's work worth considering. Personally, I’m not sure there's a definitive magic number.
April 6, 2025 at 4:26 PM
There are also many thoughtful critiques of Chenoweth's work worth considering. Personally, I’m not sure there's a definitive magic number.
I think research on protest movements & regime change is good and important and also I get really nervous when people treat Chenoweth's Ratio as like a magic spell that will induce positive change once a critical mass is in the streets.
June 15, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I think research on protest movements & regime change is good and important and also I get really nervous when people treat Chenoweth's Ratio as like a magic spell that will induce positive change once a critical mass is in the streets.
Jenna has, canonically, performed on a sheikh's yacht with a sword to get throat, Kristin Chenoweth's corpse at her feet
October 10, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Jenna has, canonically, performed on a sheikh's yacht with a sword to get throat, Kristin Chenoweth's corpse at her feet
(More on Chenoweth's fascinating--and compelling--research):
Questions, Answers, and Some Cautionary Updates Regarding the 3.5% Rule
The “3.5% rule” refers to the claim that no government has withstood a challenge of 3.5% of their population mobilized against it during a peak event. In this brief paper, author Erica Chenoweth addre...
www.hks.harvard.edu
June 15, 2025 at 6:16 PM
(More on Chenoweth's fascinating--and compelling--research):
Erica Chenoweth’s research shows that nonviolent protests are successful if 3.5% of the population is actively protesting. Let’s talk about what that really means. #protest #democracy
April 7, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Erica Chenoweth’s research shows that nonviolent protests are successful if 3.5% of the population is actively protesting. Let’s talk about what that really means. #protest #democracy
Serwer is one of the few people I would take this from without objection, and by appealing to Chenoweth's research he's using a lot more than vibes and elite solidarity. There are substantial risks to the Trump presidency ending in a hail of gunfire, sweet as the relief might seem.
May 13, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Serwer is one of the few people I would take this from without objection, and by appealing to Chenoweth's research he's using a lot more than vibes and elite solidarity. There are substantial risks to the Trump presidency ending in a hail of gunfire, sweet as the relief might seem.
Evidence of Erica Chenoweth’s observation that nonviolent social movements constitute a “civil society on steroids”
January 16, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Evidence of Erica Chenoweth’s observation that nonviolent social movements constitute a “civil society on steroids”
Anyone quoting Erica Chenoweth's excellent work on nonviolent resistance should also study Dr. AH Nimtz's "Violence and/or Nonviolence in the Success of the Civil Rights Movement".
Nimtz is a Black professor of polisci at UMN and his work emphasizes the importance of the *threat* of violence.
Nimtz is a Black professor of polisci at UMN and his work emphasizes the importance of the *threat* of violence.
Over 50% of nonviolent movements to overthrow governments are successful within one year of their peak.
The key is to engage over 3.5% of the country, a cross-section of society—clergy, kids, grandmas, teachers) using DIVERSE & CREATIVE tactics, with women in leadership.
We can do this.
More:
The key is to engage over 3.5% of the country, a cross-section of society—clergy, kids, grandmas, teachers) using DIVERSE & CREATIVE tactics, with women in leadership.
We can do this.
More:
On Organizing
time to level up / an early draft of a playbook
www.lifeisasacredtext.com
January 18, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Anyone quoting Erica Chenoweth's excellent work on nonviolent resistance should also study Dr. AH Nimtz's "Violence and/or Nonviolence in the Success of the Civil Rights Movement".
Nimtz is a Black professor of polisci at UMN and his work emphasizes the importance of the *threat* of violence.
Nimtz is a Black professor of polisci at UMN and his work emphasizes the importance of the *threat* of violence.
still thinking about Erica Chenoweth’s work on nonviolent resistance
August 8, 2024 at 12:10 PM
still thinking about Erica Chenoweth’s work on nonviolent resistance
This is not a criticism of Chenoweth’s research, but Goodhart’s law is starting to kick in with respect to this benchmark. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhar...
June 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM
This is not a criticism of Chenoweth’s research, but Goodhart’s law is starting to kick in with respect to this benchmark. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhar...
The gays really aren’t buying Kristin Chenoweth’s “apology” - buff.ly/7GysOWM
September 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The gays really aren’t buying Kristin Chenoweth’s “apology” - buff.ly/7GysOWM
If Mr. Bouie is referring only to elected officials, apologies, but I don't remember them being so much more active in 2017. If he's referring to public protest, I'll stick with Chenoweth's very accurate measures saying there's more this time.
May 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
If Mr. Bouie is referring only to elected officials, apologies, but I don't remember them being so much more active in 2017. If he's referring to public protest, I'll stick with Chenoweth's very accurate measures saying there's more this time.
if folk haven’t read any of Erica Chenoweth’s works, but Civil Resistance What Everyone Needs to Know is the most recent and accessible to non-academics
October 9, 2025 at 9:25 PM
if folk haven’t read any of Erica Chenoweth’s works, but Civil Resistance What Everyone Needs to Know is the most recent and accessible to non-academics
Erica Chenoweth's 3.5% of the country doing non-violent stuff can overthrow a government bullshit pisses me off for so many reasons but the Egypt shit in particular makes me so fucking angry like A. the revolution ended when the army just shot everyone in the square
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
June 16, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Erica Chenoweth's 3.5% of the country doing non-violent stuff can overthrow a government bullshit pisses me off for so many reasons but the Egypt shit in particular makes me so fucking angry like A. the revolution ended when the army just shot everyone in the square
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
Moreover, ICE must be destroyed
I just shook Kristin Chenoweth's hand. Ain't nobody can tell me nothin' today.
December 21, 2024 at 3:08 AM
I just shook Kristin Chenoweth's hand. Ain't nobody can tell me nothin' today.
Here is the data to support my post above:
Erica Chenoweth’s “Civil Resistance: What Everyone Needs to Know”
Civil resistance has emerged as a mainstay of the many social movements active around the world, and Erica Chenoweth's new book guides readers through its theory and practice.
www.hks.harvard.edu
February 15, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Here is the data to support my post above: