The UNPO is delighted to have partnered with the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto through its Justice Capstone Seminar for a student-led research project on ‘Grassroots Movements in a fragmented world: Comparative Strategies, Regional Dynamics, and Global Advocacy’.
As part of this collaboration, a dedicated student team (Basel Abdulla, Maria Fernanda De Almeida, Nicole Harris and Jhanvi Mahajan) under the supervision of Dr. David Zarnett (Sessional Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto), explored the development of grassroots strategies and movements in today’s rapidly evolving geopolitical context, across regions. Their comparative analysis examined the unique challenges, opportunities, and risks faced nowadays by Peoples and Nations, including minorities, Indigenous Peoples or people living in colonised territories, engaging in grassroots movements, particularly those advocating for human rights, political autonomy, and social justice. Special attention was given to the non-violent efforts of UNPO member communities, with the team conducting personal interviews with representatives from the Sindh, Haratin, Catalonia, Iranian Kurdistan and the Nagas. The result was a comprehensive report mapping the evolution of nonviolent movements and a strategic analysis of specific UNPO case studies.
The student team also participated in the UNPO’s recent Re-Imagining Self-Determination Conference, held from May 9-11, 2025, in Madeira, Portugal. This three-day event brought together UNPO members, grassroots leaders, scholars, policymakers, and international experts to explore how the right to self-determination can serve as a mechanism for addressing today’s geopolitical challenges. The conference provided a dynamic platform for reopening discussions on the relevance of self-determination, including important interventions by Dr. Tenzin Dorjee, (Lecturer in the Discipline of Political Science at Columbia University) on Non-Violent Strategies within the current geopolitical context. The student team supported discussions that followed with experts and community members on New Tactics of Grassroots Mobilisation and Strategic Solidarity to Protect Peoples’ Rights. Themes of nonviolent grassroots tactics and how to keep voices heard in a particularly divided world were central to both the conference and the final reports, emphasising the importance of like-minded partnerships and shared learning.
The report titled, ‘From Margins to Movements: The Evolution, Success Factors, and Challenges of Grassroots Advocacy in a Changing Global Order’ combines academic research and analysis with real-world insight, drawing in historical trends, interviews and a comparative analysis across different regions. Some key insights include:
- Nonviolence works. Since 1945, nonviolent movements have consistently outperformed violent ones, with especial impact when they are able to draw large numbers of peoples to mobilise and onto digital platforms. Between 1945-2006, nonviolent movements achieved their goals twice as often as violent ones.
- Digital tools are both powerful and risky. Social media and online organisation has helped movements grow faster and connect globally. However, this has also posed a challenge to grassroots movements where depending too heavily on digital platforms may place activists at risk of censorship, surveillance and online harassment, especially under authoritarian regimes.
- Women lead with impact. Research showed that women-led movements tend to be more successful due to their association with nonviolence and their ability to expand mobilisation through strong social networks.
- International support matters, and must be handled with care. Support from global media and advocacy organisations can raise awareness and provide protection. However, if not handled carefully, it can also lead to co-optation, reduce local ownership, or trigger backlash from hostile governments.
The report underlines the key deepening of interdependence between grassroots movements and global institutions’. While international platforms and networks offer visibility and resources, they also bring new challenges, including surveillance risks and potential co-optation. As such, and looking forward, ‘the sustainability of grassroots movements will depend on their ability to adapt to shifting political and technological landscapes’.
In a second report, titled ‘Mobilizing for Impact: Lessons from Global Movements and Strategies for UNPO Members’, the team offers recommendations for specific UNPO members, grounded in the experiences of those UNPO representatives they interviewed, alongside independent research. As a representative of the Nagas stated, ‘in the short term, we aim to mitigate human suffering and expose ongoing human rights violations’. Similarly, in talking about the use of nonviolent strategies, a representative of the Haratin explained ‘le fait que nous ne réagissons pas à la violence ça marque les esprits’ (english translation ‘the fact that we did not respond with violence, it struck people’).
UNPO extends its sincere thanks to the student team and Dr. Zarnett for their thoughtful and timely contribution. We also express our gratitude to the representatives of the Sindh, Iranian Kurds, Catalans, Haratin, Nagas and the organisation IDSN, representing the Dalits (International Dalit Solidarity Network), for taking the time to provide their valuable experiences on grassroots movements.
We look forward to continued collaboration with the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy in advancing research and advocacy for unrepresented nations and peoples worldwide.
