Question

What is the philosophy behind active resistance?

Answer 1

Passive resistance commonly refers to actions of nonviolent protest or resistance to authority. The central feature is the conscious choice by the actors to abstain from a violent response even in the face of violent aggression. The term came into common use during the independence struggle in India between the 1920s and 1948. It has been used widely by groups who lack formal authority or position and has sometimes been called the “weapon of the weak.”


Active resistance can be two things depending upon the application of the term. In criminal justice, active resistance means a law enforcement officer coming into contact with someone who physically counters what the officer is attempting to do. In governmental philosophy, active resistance is defined as anarchism against a state or government for the purposes of disrupting the established order.