November 30, 2023 | NEWS | By Tessa Frantz
“Democracy is shrinking,” said visiting professor and internationally renowned activist Srdja Popovic.
On Monday afternoon, students, staff, and community members gathered in Bemis Hall to catch Popovic’s lecture on “Defending Democracy Through Social Movements,” the fourth installment of the 2023-24 First Monday event series.
Popovic was a leader and co-founder of the student activist group Otpor! (“Resistance!”), the nonviolent resistance movement that overthrew Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.
As a co-founder and director of the Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies, Popovic draws on his experience in Serbia as well as his work in over 50 other countries to consult with other infant resistance movements, detect when democracies are at risk, and institutionalize democracy worldwide.
Popovic began the forum with a 30-minute speech on his concerns, analyses, and hopes for the political climate of the United States and other countries in an era where “democracy is just one generation away from extinction.”
According to Popovic, democracies around the world are being rocked from within. He noted that today, the most prevalent disease from which democracy is dying isn’t traditional autocrats, individuals concerned with stealing absolute power, but “electoral ‘democrats’ that hijack institutions from above.” Popovic clarified that many authoritarians are taking hold where elections technically occur but are seized by non-democratic means.
The antidote, Popovic says, are non-state, non-mainstream social movements fueled by “people power.” Popovic cited domestic examples like the killing of George Floyd and the outrage following the overturning of Roe vs. Wade; internationally, Popovic mentioned the “coup-spring” of nonviolent resistance movements in Romania, Hungary, and Poland. While mainstream politicians may capitalize on public outrage, the change following these events was enacted solely by large mass movements of everyday citizens.
Popovic specifically outlined the “Holy Trinity of Success” social movements require to succeed and sustain their defense and installment of democracy: vision and unity, planning, and nonviolent discipline.
Popovic explained the importance of having a clear vision for a supposed social movement: “Most movements fail because they’re not capable of institutionalizing their change.” He attests to large mass movements in locations like South America — movements that fight against oppressive governments, but ultimately lack the ideological cohesion to bring a new system altogether. He emphasized the need to look past the potential success of a movement and figure out what the future of a country will look like.
“There are two types of revolutions in this world. They are either spontaneous, or successful,” he said.
Popovic also explained that planning alternative, nonviolent tactics of protest like performing funny or artistic demonstrations make movements more accessible and digestible to others, enticing them to participate. “To be successful, you need to mobilize people who are not alike,” said Popovic.
Popovic’s final component of the ‘Holy Trinity’ echoes back to a message he brought up continuously throughout his presentation: nonviolent action. Nonviolent action doesn’t contribute to chaos, but rather focuses on messaging and productive action.
After his presentation, the question-and-answer portion of the event commenced. The topics varied from specific cases of injustice, to the duplicitous role of social media and the threat of surveillance to large group movements.
Popovic also stressed that at the center of every social movement are young people and students. One student asked a question about how CC students can best help in the fight for democracy. Popovic replied, “There is no better time for you to be an activist than now. There is a reason why students are always on the cutting edge of social revolutions. Get passionate. You’re young, and most importantly, you don’t have anything to lose.”
Popovic added that the biggest threat to democracy is the silence and apathy of its defenders, noting that activists must have and use their democratic institutions by paying attention to politics, registering to vote, and starting or joining organizations to spread awareness.