Blueprint for Revolution: how to use rice pudding, Lego men, and other non-violent techniques to galvanise communities, overthrow dictators, or simply change the world

by Srdja Popovic

If you recall Gandhi’s salt march, you’ll remember that he worked in incremental steps and declared all his little victories along the way. That’s because he understood the game of nonviolence instinctively. When his attempts to curry favor with the British Raj by highlighting India’s loyalty to the crown soured, he needed a different entry point. Announcing a revolution, he knew, would most likely invite a major crackdown and produce nothing more substantial than a flare-up of patriotic enthusiasm followed by even stricter oppression—which is exactly the fate that befell the activists of Tiananmen Square. What Gandhi needed was an easy opportunity to allow his followers to slowly and comfortably learn the rules of civil disobedience, hone their skills, and bolster their courage. He found all of that in salt.