Resistance movements

The big idea: A resistance movement is a group that resists a ruling power — a government, a regime or a foreign occupation. It may act non-violently or turn to armed struggle.

A social movement pushes for change on an issue. A resistance movement goes further: it opposes those in power and often wants to remove or replace them. That raises hard questions about violence and legitimacy.

• Protests and strikes — marches and walkouts against those in power.
• Civil disobedience — peacefully breaking unjust rules.
• Armed struggle — an insurgency or armed rebellion, at the violent end.

A non-state actor with a hard question attached: A resistance movement is a non-state actor. Whether people call it legitimate depends on the cause and the methods: the same group can be a 'freedom fighter' to one side and a 'terrorist' to the other.

A clear recent example is the resistance to the 2021 military coup in Myanmar.

Case study — Myanmar 2021: In 2021 Myanmar's army staged a coup, removing the elected government. Millions joined a peaceful resistance — mass protests and a civil disobedience campaign, with workers refusing to cooperate.

The army answered with a violent crackdown. Over time, parts of the resistance turned to armed struggle to defend themselves. The movement showed the whole spectrum — from peaceful protest to armed resistance — in one country.

The key point: Resistance movements often start non-violent and shift toward force when peaceful methods are crushed. How a government responds shapes whether resistance stays peaceful — and how the world judges its legitimacy.

So are resistance movements legitimate, and do they work? People disagree — it depends on the cause and the methods.

Link it up: This is all about legitimacy and power. In an answer, separate the cause (is it just?) from the methods (violent or not?) — a strong response weighs both before judging.

How resistance movements come up in Paper 1: A Paper 1 source might show a group resisting a government or occupier. To answer well, show that they fight power they see as unjust — and that whether they look like heroes or rebels often depends on your perspective.

Easy marks to lose: 1. Treating all resistance the same. Separate cause from methods.



2. Only one side. Weigh 'freedom fighter' against 'terrorist'.



3. No real example. Use Myanmar 2021 or the anti-apartheid movement.



4. Confusing it with a social movement. Resistance opposes a ruling power.