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Here's the reality: Many now traverse a labyrinth of novel choices, calculations, and personal risks. Ours is a time of lists—of “deep state” figures to be prosecuted, media outlets to be exiled, and genders to be outlawed.

We analyzed the literature of protest and spoke to foreign dissidents and opposition leaders, movement strategists, domestic activists, and scholars of nonviolent movements. We asked them for their advice.

There's good news: If you are one of the people prepared to take risks in to protect American democracy, there are some proven lessons, operational and spiritual, to be learned from those who have challenged repressive regimes across the world. Here are a few (but lots, lots more in the essay):

First, a baseline step: Know that autocratic leaders can be successfully challenged. @chenoweth.bsky.social has found that when at least 3.5 per cent of the population participated in nonviolent opposition, movements were largely successful.

Successful campaigns weaken popular support for an authoritarian by encouraging sectors of society—e.g. biz leaders, religious institutions, unions, or military—to withdraw support from a corrupt or unjust regime. One by one, sectors defect, and, the leader weakens.

Take South Africa, where economic boycotts got leaders to the table. Or Serbia: a student movement weakened the willingness of state security forces to use violence against them. At the protests' peak, Milošević ordered police to disperse the protesters, but police refused.

12/4/25, 4:09 pm5 reposts25 likes

“All power-holders, even the most ruthless and corrupt, rely on the consent and coöperation of ordinary people,” @mariajstephan.bsky.social, who co-authored a book with Chenoweth titled “Why Civil Resistance Works,” told us.

The key to challenging authoritarian regimes, Stephan said, is for citizens to decline to participate in immoral and illegal acts. She has a phrase for this mind-set: “I think of it as collective stubbornness."

Another lesson we learned: Dissidents we spoke to said establishing a political home is necessary for nurturing non-cooperation. Have a practice to help guard against loneliness/despair, and check in with others going through a similar experience.