Journal of Resistance Studies logo

First 'Intergalactic' Resistance Studies Conference

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

June 18-21, 2026 

Constructive Resistance: Conceptualising and Mapping the Terrain

Majken Jul Sørensen
Year of publication: 2016
DOI: 10.63961/2025.041
Download

Get Access

Buy Article $20

Purchase this article and receive the PDF via email. 

Buy

Is your library using openathens?

Click on  ‘Login’ and you will be authenticated, your credentials will be detected. No need for further passwords.

Login

Subscribe $59/ YEAR

With an annual subscription you will get access to ALL the articles. Read online or download, starting from less than $5 a month (billed annually)!

Subscribe

Ask your Library to Subscribe

Ask your institution or your library to subscribe to the Journal. Simply fill out this form, and your University will receive the request for you.

Request

Abstract

People living under systems of domination and exploitation engage in resistance in diverse ways, including building and experimenting with alternatives to the present. These efforts, often termed "constructive resistance," involve initiatives where individuals begin to shape the society they desire, independently of the dominant structures. In peace and conflict studies, this concept aligns with Gandhi’s idea of the constructive programme. In anarchist and Marxist traditions, it is known as prefigurative politics. While there are overlaps between these concepts, they emphasize different aspects. Despite frequent discussions among scholars and activists about the need for constructive approaches to resistance, relatively little has been written about analyzing these alternatives. This article proposes a broad definition of constructive resistance, grounded in an inclusive understanding of resistance itself. It explores how to balance the elements of "construction" and "resistance" through diverse examples, considering how much of each is necessary to qualify as constructive resistance.

Share on socials

Login

Forgot your password, or haven’t set it up yet?

Click here to reset your password.

submit a presentation, panel or workshop proposal, or paper for the award

Please select form to show

Send acceptance email to the author

Ask your institution to subscribe

Sign Up

Update status

Submit an abstract

Abstract Title
Name
Correspondence email
Enter the email you want to use for correspondence
Authors
ABSTRACT
Max 500 characters

Join the Resistance Studies Community

Are you a researcher or activist interested in nonviolent resistance?

We’re building a community of scholars, activists, and thinkers dedicated to understanding and advancing nonviolent resistance through research and action.

By subscribing to our mailing list, you will:

  • Stay updated on new research and articles that push the conversation forward.
  • Be notified of open calls for papers and get reminders about dates and deadlines.
  • Connect with a growing network of people who, like you, are committed to making a difference.

Our vision is to build a space for collaboration and collective growth. We are interested in hearing from you, learn about new perspectives, think about opportunities for more join initiatives and creative ideas to advance nonviolent resistance. All of this can be possible if we keep in touch with likeminded thinkers.

 Let’s build this movement together.

Sign Up to Our Email List

Name
Email *

Buy Issue

Email *
Amount *

Buy article

Email *
Amount *

Sign Up

Please select form to show

Sign Up

Please select form to show

Apply for a custom subscription

What best describes you? *
Name *
Email *
Country

How can we help your members get access to our content? Do you need IP access? Tell us about your technical needs.

Your digital access needs

Finally, tell us a bit about yourself, how will access to the Journal benefit you, and why you need a fee price adjustment.

About you

Ask your institution to subscribe

1
2
3
4
Last Page
Full name *
Your email *
Institution *
The name of your University/ library/ institution

Please provide the email address of the contact person at your institution who is most likely to approve and bring forward your application. It could be a supervisor, librarian, head of department, depending on your institution's approval system.

Email of your institutional representative
Email of a contact person at your University or library
Role at your institution *
for example: student, lecturer, etc
ID Number at your institution
For example: student ID, library, etc

TIP: Tell you institution why you need this subscription. You may want to provide details about your research or studies, and why you believe this is a great journal to subscribe to.

Message

Once you submit, an email will be generated and sent to your institution.

Thank you so much, we hope you will be successful in your request, and that you will enjoy our journal. Finally, we hope you will be happy to join our community, stay in touch with us, and contribute to Resistance Studies.

Submit an article

1
Get started
2
3
Last Page

Before we get started

Thanks for considering a submission to the Journal of Resistance Studies! Before we get started, we just want to make sure that everything is ready. JRS receives more submissions than we can publish. As a journal for a relatively new academic field, it is important for us to publish texts that contribute to developing 'Resistance Studies' with theoretical ideas, high quality empirical material, interesting analysis, and/or cases from a wide spectra of societal contexts.

Does your article:

  • Have a clear focus on 'resistance' and how resistance influences power relations?
  • Contribute to our theoretical understanding of resistance, or is a better fit for the sociology of social movement field?
  • Include an abstract, citations, and a reference list?
  • Does it follow the guidelines in our policy statement?

If you have answered yes to these questions, we look forward to reading your submission. Let's go!

Type
Title
Correspondence email
Enter the email you want to use for correspondence about the submission
Authors
IS THIS SUBMISSION FOR AN UPCOMING SPECIAL ISSUE?
ABSTRACT
Min 500 characters
Upload full draft
Maximum file size: 7 MB
Upload an editable Word document

Anonymous version
Maximum file size: 7 MB
Upload an article that does not include authors' names and identification

Activate your Subscription

Select subscription *
Shipping Address
Add address if you select a print & digital plan
0.00

Sign Up

In order to create a subscription you need to create an account. You will need to verify your email address, and then you will be redirected to proceed with the payment. If you don’t find your email, please check your spam and promotion folder, and contact us if you need support.

If you already have an account, skip this step and login.

Name *
Email *

By creating an account, you consent to receiving email notifications and updates about the Resistance Studies journal and network. You can change your notification preference in the RSN site under 'account' settings.