Objectives of the Asian Action Institute

  • Disseminate and share the theory and practice of strategic nonviolent action in the South Asia region
  • Build a vibrant regional network of grassroots activists and scholars interested and/or involved in the study and practice of strategic nonviolent action
  • Identify potential joint scholar-practitioner initiatives to advance knowledge about the study and practice of strategic nonviolent action
  • Identify specific conflicts in the region that scholars and practitioners work on or are involved in which can benefit from integration or reinforcement of a nonviolent resistance perspective

Themes for the Asian Action Institute

  • What is strategic nonviolent action
  • How nonviolent action works
  • Why nonviolent campaigns succeed or fail
  • Nonviolent strategy and tactics
  • Movement and campaign communications and media.
  • Case studies of local campaigns and examples of nonviolent movements from South Asia and a larger region
  • Field trip to a community with a civil resistance campaign
  • How strategic nonviolent action shapes societies, national, and international affairs
  • Work in small groups to create strategic and tactical action plans

Our Instructors

Learn From the best

Dr. Maciej Bartkowski

Senior Director of Education and Research

Dr. Maciej Bartkowski is Senior Director for Education & Research at ICNC. He joined ICNC in 2009 and prior to that he held managerial and teaching positions at Adelphi University and Bard College.
At ICNC, he directs various academic programs for students, faculty, and educators from around the world to support teaching, research, and study on civil resistance. He is also spearheading ICNC efforts to build infrastructure for and expand distance education and online learning. He is also an editor of the ICNC Monographs and special reports series.
He holds an adjunct faculty position at Krieger School of Arts and Sciences of Johns Hopkins University where he teaches strategic nonviolent resistance. In 2016, he was appointed an adjunct professor at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Dr. Bartkowski is a book editor of Recovering Nonviolent History. Civil Resistance in Liberation Struggles published by Lynne Rienner in 2013.

Dr. Steve Chase

Manager of Academic Initiatives, ICNC

Steve Chase, a long-time activist, educator, and writer, is ICNC’s Manager of Academic Initiatives and a Regular Contributor to Minds of the Movement Blog. His work supports academic research, curriculum development, classroom and online learning, and other educational efforts, with the aim of connecting practitioners and scholars.
During his doctorate work at Antioch University, Steve completed a curriculum action research dissertation entitled, Activist Training in the Academy: Developing a Master’s Program in Environmental Advocacy and Organizing. The dissertation served as the conceptual blueprint for Antioch University’s master’s program in Advocacy for Social Justice and Sustainability and inspired the five-point curriculum framework of The Change Agency, a national nonviolent activist training network in Australia.
As a result of this research, Steve served as the founding Program Director of Antioch University’s Advocacy for Social Justice and Sustainability master’s program for twelve years. He taught blended online/on-campus courses in Organizing Social Movements and Campaigns; Leadership for Change; Political Economy and Sustainability; Corporate Power and Democracy; Diversity, Justice, and Inclusion; as well as several all-online classes in Nonprofit Leadership.

Regional Trainers and Presenters

Additional trainers and presenters from the region, both scholars and activists, will also be engaged to share their experiences, perspectives, and expertise. Photos and bios for these additional Action Institute faculty will be added as the roster of regional trainers and presenters is completed. Please keep an eye on this space for information about these additional Institute faculty members and speakers!

Venue

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The South Asian Regional Institute venue is Park Village Resort which is located at the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley, just below the subtropical Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park, less than half an hour’s drive from central Kathmandu or the airport. It has been one of the favorite get aways of tourists since decades due to its proximity with Kathmandu and surroundings.

Park Village Resort:

It is located in totally peaceful environment, the only noise in the hotel is the chirping of birds Park Village Hotel and Resort is a verdant oasis set in five acres of tranquil, wooded gardens overlooking the hustle and bustle of central Kathmandu. More than two thousand flowering trees and shrubs cover the grounds and are home to butterflies, dragonflies and nearly 75 species of birds including hoopoes, heron and kingfisher. The fresh, natural environment coupled with comfortable, well-appointed accommodation, good food, and a lovely outdoor swimming pool make it the perfect place to relax either on arrival in Nepal or at the end of your trek or tour.

All the participants will be kept in the twin sharing basis with attached bathroom and with full room amenities like A/C, tea makers and unlimited use of Swimming Pool and Gym. Participants requiring single accommodation other than the twin sharing need to contact the organizers. Any such need will be addressed upon the availability of room and extra payment made to the organizers. Single room accommodation will be very expensive as well.

Testimonial

" It was a privilege to participate in the 2019 Asian Action Institute. The training curriculum demonstrated a great balance of theory and practice, and provided valuable insights into grassroots level civil resistance movements and their effectiveness. This was also a wonderful opportunity to meet activists, scholars, practitioners, lawyers, and peace ambassadors from various countries and build long-lasting relationships. Hopefully this network will lead to some amazing collaborations and meaningful work in the future "

- Rukmini Banerjee, India, AAI Nepal-2019

" The Asian Action Institute was a nourishing space for me because brought together theoretical inputs from scholars, skill-building sessions with trainers as well as first-hand interactions with activists and movement builders. I also learnt a lot from my peers who are doing important, courageous work in difficult circumstances "

- Chintan Girish Modi, India, AAI Nepal-2019

" The training academy has been a very rejuvenating and refreshing experience for me , unlearning and relearning the concepts of peace building and non violence techniques. A very well packed and carefully planned workshop incorporating various teaching methodologies helped me develop a wholesome view of context specific conflicts in the region. There is so much more need for trainings like these that bring out the best and often most overlooked issues of the field of conflict management and mitigation. "

–Subhi Dhupar, India, AAI Nepal-2019

Online Library

Participants can read more on nonviolent movements and civil resistance from the reading materials provided below.