Political Transformations from Peaceful Protests
G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
TLDR (Too Long, Didn’t Read):
Peaceful protests—like those led by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and anti-apartheid activists—can bring major political change without violence. They work by raising awareness, disrupting the status quo, pressuring leaders, and gaining public support. Success depends on strategy, mass participation (the "3.5% rule"), nonviolent discipline, and the ability to adapt. While effective, movements face challenges like government repression, internal division, and sustaining momentum. Modern examples like Black Lives Matter and Fridays for Future show peaceful protest still matters, but outcomes vary based on political context.
