The 3.5% Rule
Political scientists don’t often come up with something that sounds like it should be on a bumper sticker, but the “3.5% rule” is an…
The 3.5% Rule
Political scientists don’t often come up with something that sounds like it should be on a bumper sticker, but the “3.5% rule” is an exception. It’s simultaneously terrifying for those in power, and inspiring for those who aren’t.
The concept is based off of Erica Chenoweth’s research of 323 resistance campaigns between the years of 1900–2006, and shows that no government in modern history has survived when at least 3.5% of its population mobilized in sustained, nonviolent protest.
Every single movement that hit that threshold, and sustained that movement, won.
Now, 3.5% doesn’t sound like much, but let’s do the math. In the U.S., that’s about 12 million people. Not 330 million. Not a majority. Just enough to clog every airport, jam every highway, and hit Wall Street where it hurts.
The “untouchable” state doesn’t look so invincible when you realize it’s being held together by the compliance of the very people it exploits.