The Egyptian Military Defects During the Arab Spring

Time Period: 2011Location: EgyptMain Actors: The Egyptian MilitaryTactics - Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance - Mutinies by government personnel - Protective Presence Between 1981-2011 Egypt was under the authoritarian rule...

The Chilean Security Sector Defects from the Pinochet Dictatorship

Time Period: 1988Location: ChileMain Actors: Fernando Matthei (Air Force General), Rodolfo Stange (General Director of the Police), José Merino (Navy Admiral)Tactics - Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance - Mutinies by...

Philippines Armed Forces Resist a Dictatorship

Time Period: 1982-1986Location: The PhilippinesMain Actors: Armed Forces of the Philippines, Reform of the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), Fidel Ramos, Juan Ponce EnrileTactics - Selective refusal of assistance by government...

Veterans Defend Standing Rock Protesters 

Time Period: December 2016Location: United States, North Dakota (Standing Rock Reservation)Main Actors: Veterans, Veterans Stand for Standing RockTactics - Protest - Non-violent occupation - Assemblies of protest The Standing Rock...

Venezuelan Military Officers Refuse Honors from a Dictator

Time Period: June 2000Location: VenezuelaMain Actors: Venezuelan Military OfficersTactics - Selective social boycott Venezuela began a long, sad road towards authoritarianism and economic crisis during Hugo Chávez’s presidency (1999-2013). The...

A “Wall of Vets” Protects Free Expression in Portland

Time Period: Summer 2020Location: Portland, Oregon (and then spread across USA)Main Actors: Wall of Vets Facebook GroupTactics - Protective Presence - Nonviolent Interjection Following the police killing of George Floyd...

US Military Leaders Affirm Their Commitment to Democracy

Time Period: January 2021Location: Washington, DCMain Actors: US Joint Chiefs of StaffTactics - Letters of Opposition or Support On January 6th, 2021, the United States faced a direct threat to...

Ukrainian Veterans Save Lives Through Quiet Diplomacy

Time Period: December 2002 - December 2004Location: UkraineMain Actors: General Volodymyr Antonets, veterans & officers in the Ukrainian security forcesTactics - Dialogue/engagement  - Fraternization  - Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance...

THE PILLARS PROJECT: Veterans and Military Families

What is the connection between democracy and veterans and military families? Upon entering their military service, veterans swore an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United...

Violence and the Backfire Effect

*This article was written by former Director of Applied Research Jonathan Pinckney. Any movement that seeks to stand up against powerful opposition and advocate on important political issues must be...