St. Joseph Church
Bristol, Connecticut

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Pastoral Minister

Boycott social, economic or political noncooperation directed toward bringing the opposition to a position where there is a willingness to negotiate.

Civic Strike is a collective suspension of normal working or daily activities by an entire society to achieve a common political, moral objective.

Civil Disobedience is a deliberate, open and peaceful violation of particular laws, decrees, regulations, military or police orders, or other governmental directives. The command may be disobeyed because it is seen as itself unjust or immoral, or because it is a symbol of other policies which are opposed. Civil disobedience may be practiced by individuals, groups, or masses of people.

Civilian-based defense in usually associated with Gene Sharp. It is a national defense policy to deter and defeat aggression, both internal (i.e., coup d'etat) and external (i.e., invasions) by preparing the population and institutions for massive nonviolent resistance and defiance. The broad strategy is to deny the attackers' objectives, block establishment of their government, and subvert their troops. This policy, alone or in combination with military means, has received governmental or military attention in several European countries.

Civilian insurrection is a nonviolent uprising against a dictatorship, or other unpopular regime, usually involving widespread repudiation of the regime as illegitimate mass strikes, massive demonstrations, an economic shut-down, and widespread political noncooperation.

Economic noncooperation is the use of economic boycotts or strikes, or both, against an opponent.

Economic sanctions are usually associated with the imposition of international economic boycotts and embargoes. The term can also be used in domestic conflicts to refer to labor strikes and economic boycotts, shutdowns, and intervention.

Embargo is an economic boycott initiated and enforced by a government.

Fast is a deliberate abstention from certain or all food. When it is used in the context of political and moral protest it is directed toward raising awareness and changing behavior of others and those in power.

Force is an application of physical, economic, political and military sanctions.

General Strike is a work stoppage by a majority or all workers in the more important industries of an area or country, intended to produce and economic standstill to achieve moral, political and economic objectives.

Noncooperation consists of acts that deliberately restrict, withhold, or discontinue social, economic, or political cooperation with an institution, policy, or government.

Nonviolence is the choice that individuals and groups make to reject violence ( words, gestures, actions and policies that demean or deny the human dignity of each person) in the pursuit of justice and peace. In the Christian context it is a way of life based on the nonviolent Christ.

Nonviolent action is a way of engaging in political life directed toward action for justice and peace in imitation of Jesus Christ. It is a technique of action in conflict situations in which the participants conduct their struggle by doing--or refusing to do--certain acts without using physical violence. In the Christian context it is a way of life, not just a technique.

Pacifism is a personal rejection of war and violence. It is the rejection of one's participation in any act of violence by refraining from emotional, psychological, physical and verbal violence. Pacifists reject war in all forms and rejects the notion of the "just war."

Sanctions are punishments or reprisals, violent or nonviolent, for either failure to act in the expected or desired manner or for acting in a an unexpected or prohibited manner.

Satyagraha is M.K. Gandhi's version of nonviolent action, and also his fuller belief system enjoining nonviolent personal behavior and social responsibility. It is the commitment not to do harm to anyone. Extended to the fullest sense, it has much in common with the Christian concept of "stewardship" for others, the earth and oneself.

Strike is a group's deliberate restriction or suspension of work, usually temporary, to put pressure on employees or sometimes the government. Strikes take many forms and range widely in extent and duration.

Transarmament is the process of incrementally building up a nation's civilian-based defense capacity and gradually phasing out its military defense capacity. It is directed toward removing offensive military capability in the near-term. Transarmament is contrasted with disarmament which simply involved reducing or eliminating military defense without providing other means of national defense.

Violence is any attitude, word, or action that threatens or destroys the human dignity of a human person or groups of persons. Violence can originate from individuals and from social structures.

References

Dwyer, Judith. The New Dictionary of Catholic Social Thought. Liturgical Press. 1994.

Powers, Roger; Vogele, William. Protest, Power, and Change. Garland Publishing. 1997.