Nonviolent action is a topic of growing political importance and – especially in the form of unarmed resistance to undemocratic regimes – the focus of an increasing literature, as noted in the Introduction to this bibliography. But it is only one aspect of a broad theoretical and moral commitment to nonviolence, which embraces (as in Gandhi’s thought) an aspiration to a new just economic, social and political order, and emphasises conflict resolution at all levels and an ideal of personal living. This broad interpretation of nonviolence is not covered in the bibliography (except where directly relevant to individuals and movements engaged in nonviolent resistance). However, recent (very readable) works that do discuss nonviolence in a broad context are:

Francis, Diana People, Peace and Power: Conflict Transformation in Action, London, Pluto Press, 2002

(looking in particular at developing skilled nongovernmental leadership in nonviolent approaches to promoting justice and ending destructive conflict)

Hastings, Tom Power: Nonviolent Transformation from the Transpersonal to the Transnational, Lenham, MD, Hamilton Books, 2005

(written from the perspective of an activist academic)

A number of classics in the literature of peace and nonviolence also have some relevance to the theory of nonviolent action. These include:

James, William The Moral Equivalent of War, 1906

a short essay arguing the need for alternatives to military methods and emotions associated with war, later reproduced as a pamphlet and in anthologies

Huxley, Aldous Ends and Means: An Enquiry into the Nature of Ideals and into the Methods Employed for their Realization, London, Chatto and Windus, 1937

which includes some discussion in chapter 10 of nonviolent resistance

Websites recommended

Ends and Means: An Enquiry into the Nature of Ideals and into the Methods Employed for their Realization London Chatto and Windus, 1937

which includes some discussion in chapter 10 of nonviolent resistance

People, Peace and Power: Conflict Transformation in Action London Pluto Press, 2002

(looking in particular at developing skilled nongovernmental leadership in nonviolent approaches to promoting justice and ending destructive conflict)

Power: Nonviolent Transformation from the Transpersonal to the Transnational Lenham, MD Hamilton Books, 2005

(written from the perspective of an activist academic)

The Moral Equivalent of War , 1906

a short essay arguing the need for alternatives to military methods and emotions associated with war, later reproduced as a pamphlet and in anthologies