What Is Nonviolence — and why must it be active?

Doing the oppositeIf violence objectifies people and reduces their capacity to direct their lives, then nonviolence must move in the opposite direction. If one person’s increased freedom depends upon reducing others to instruments of their intentions, human freedom has not increased. This also helps explain why nonviolence must be active. Active nonviolence therefore does more than abstain from harm: it challenges conditions that appropriate intentionality and works to create relationships and institutions in which human agency can expand. Nonviolence does not abolish conflict.