ABSTRACT
Nonviolence is nice in theory, several said, but it cannot work against a heartless, brutal opponent. Many activists have similar doubts about the effectiveness of Gandhian methods. Some globalization protesters justify the trashing of property and even attacks against police as necessary to overcome the world domination of corporations and government. Even among peace and human rights activists, violence is sometimes considered acceptable if it is part of a revolutionary movement. Barbara Deming insisted that nonviolent action is not merely prayerful protest. It is much more than a means of persuasion and moral appeal. It can be, and in her view must be, a form of coercion, a means of exerting power. The key to assertive social action, Deming argued, is acknowledging and even embracing the coercive elements of nonviolence. The spirit of love within nonviolence creates greater understanding and peace. Violence repels and divides. Love attracts and unites.
