Protest lessons
Lesson 1
Stop taking the democratic system and your democratic rights for granted. Accept that you need to get more involved – in any possible form and front, even if it feels small.
Lesson 2
The moves are quite similar and repeated in many historical examples. Watch out – the institutions can remain intact and still be emptied of their democratic essence.
Lesson 3
Usually, there is only a narrow and short window of opportunity to respond and resist before structural changes are made that make it extremely hard to overturn.
Lesson 4
Create wide agreements based on the principles of the struggle, and above all – maintaining democracy intact. Put secondary differences aside whenever they are not acute. Be willing to collaborate with people who might be considered as opponents in other struggles. The aim is not to agree on each policy but on the ground rules by which the regime is run.
Lesson 5
In large coalitions with diverse components it is legitimate and good to argue behind closed doors, but don’t criticize outwards. You don’t have to be completely aligned on everything and don’t have to do all activities together. Each faction can do something different, according to their agenda, that will help with the bigger picture.
Lesson 6
Democratic struggles work when a mass number of citizens make it clear that they will not accept a violation of the rules. This requires people who aren’t necessarily activists to be active. Explain the stakes and the relevancy to each and every person’s lives, and the risks that they will face otherwise.
Lesson 7
Generally, non-violent struggles are more successful than violent ones. It helps them gain more legitimacy and public sympathy, makes it easier to bring larger crowds (including old people, women and children), and doesn’t give the government an excuse to escalate dramatically.
Lesson 8
Facing an attempt to delegitimize the protest as a whole and its leaders as serving self-interests or as politically partisan – a diverse, plural, and if possible non-hierarchical, leadership will prevent any such marking.
Lesson 9
It is useful to protest personally against the people in charge of any anti-democratic insurrection. Let them be aware that they will also have to answer to the public, and they won’t be able to enjoy a peaceful life in the meantime.
Lesson 10
Protests aren’t always fun, but sometimes they can be. Performative protest events help get media attention and create a public buzz. It’s useful if the performance is creatively revolved around some of the key issues of the protest.
Lesson 11
It’s important to keep track of each attempt made to bend/change the rules and violate the democratic status-quo. Whether the struggle will succeed or fail – there will always be also a debate over the narrative of what happened. Make sure your version of the historical record is kept.
Lesson 12
This might not be a quick struggle, and it requires active involvement and participation in many arenas over time. Strengthening the democratic mechanisms and institutions is necessary, and not only every 4 years but as a consistent effort.