Episode 13

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Published on:

1st May 2025

Understanding Our Power: How to Take Meaningful Action

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Dr Chenoweth Explains Their Research and Insights

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🚨A General Strike is being organized—but it won’t happen until 3.5% of Americans commit to take part.

Why 3.5%? Because history shows that’s the tipping point where nonviolent movements win.

Read the blog. Understand the strategy. Consider joining.

#GeneralStrike #50501 #BiggerThanMe

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/848ba3ff-8782-486f-a24a-54664c5f21d8/

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Let everyone see protecting is an American right, and you are showing everyone what democracy looks like.

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Sources

Chenoweth, E., & Stephan, M. J. (2011). Why civil resistance works: The strategic logic of nonviolent conflict. Columbia University Press.

Chenoweth, E. (2013, February). The success of nonviolent civil resistance [Video]. TEDxBoulder. https://www.ted.com/talks/erica_chenoweth_the_success_of_nonviolent_civil_resistance

Kurtz, L. (2021). People power movements and the 3.5% rule. Albert Einstein Institution. https://www.aeinstein.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/People-Power-and-the-3.5-Rule.pdf

BBC News. (2019, April 11). Sudan crisis: President Bashir forced to step down by army. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47891470

Enloe, C. (2019, July 18). The women behind Sudan’s revolution. The Nation. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/sudan-women-revolution/

Philippine Commission on Human Rights. (2016). The People Power Revolution: A historic display of non-violent resistance. https://chr.gov.ph/the-people-power-revolution/

Snyder, T. (2017). On tyranny: Twenty lessons from the twentieth century. Tim Duggan Books.

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About the Podcast

Bigger Than Me Democracy Project

Where headlines meet history—and we stand united.

Bigger Than Me is a rapid-response audio blog from the Bigger Than Me Democracy Project.

Hosted by Bonnie Ross, this blog helps listeners make sense of the moments that don’t just make news — they challenge democratic norms. Each episode breaks down what happened, why it matters, and how it fits into the authoritarian playbook described in On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder.

Here are the 20 lessons we return to again and again:
1. Do not obey in advance.
Authoritarianism thrives when people preemptively conform. Refuse to teach power what it can get away with.

2. Defend institutions.
Institutions don’t protect themselves. Pick one you care about — a court, a library, a newsroom — and take its side.

3. Beware the one-party state.
Support multiparty democracy and fair elections while you still can. Vote in every election. Consider running for office.

4. Take responsibility for the face of the world.
Symbols matter. Hate spreads when we get used to seeing it. Don’t look away. Don’t let it stand.

5. Remember professional ethics.
When leaders set bad examples, ethical commitments matter more. Rule of law needs defenders in every field.

6. Be wary of paramilitaries.
When the men with guns claim to protect the nation, watch who they march with. The merging of unofficial militias and official forces signals real danger.

7. Be reflective if you must be armed.
If you serve in uniform, be ready to say no when something isn't right.

8. Stand out.
The moment you do, others will follow. Nothing breaks the spell of the status quo like someone brave enough to go first.

9. Be kind to our language.
Avoid political clichés and empty slogans. Speak clearly. Read deeply. Think for yourself.

10. Believe in truth.
If nothing is true, power wins. Reality matters. Truth is the foundation of freedom.

11. Investigate.
Don’t just consume headlines. Subscribe to trustworthy journalism. Learn how propaganda works.

12. Make eye contact and small talk.
It’s more than polite — it’s civic glue. In times of fear and distrust, human connection is resistance.

13. Practice corporeal politics.
Get off the screen. Show up in person. Join others in physical, public acts of civic life.

14. Establish a private life.
Protect your digital life. Keep some conversations offline. Tyrants exploit what they learn about you.

15. Contribute to good causes.
Support organizations that reflect your values. Help sustain civil society with your time and money.

16. Learn from peers in other countries.
Authoritarianism is a global trend. Stay connected beyond borders. Have a passport. Use it.

17. Listen for dangerous words.
“Emergency.” “Terrorism.” “Extremism.” Authoritarians exploit these words to justify taking power.

18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives.
Crises are used to break democracy. Don’t trade freedom for false promises of safety.

19. Be a patriot.
Model the kind of America you want future generations to inherit.

20. Be as courageous as you can.
No one wants to be a hero. But if we’re not willing to risk for freedom, we all risk losing it.

About your host

Bonnie Ross