The Influence of International Response on Nonviolent Struggle

Nonviolent struggles against oppressive systems, such as apartheid in South Africa and Zionist colonization in Palestine, have been influenced by the responses they receive from global power brokers. While the ANC in South Africa shifted away from violence due to positive global responses, Palestinians face demonization of their nonviolent resistance efforts by Israel, the United States, and other powerful forces. Various forms of nonviolent resistance have been witnessed since the advent of Zionist colonization, including Land Day in 1976, the first intifada in the late 80s and early 90s, BDS movements, and the Great March of Return at the Gaza border fence in 2018 and 2019. The responses to these struggles have been marked by aggressive reactions from Israel, the United States, and other involved parties.