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Both direct action and actions appealing to others can include nonviolent and [[violent]] activities which target [[person]]s, groups, or [[property]] deemed offensive to the action participants. Examples of '''nonviolent direct action''' (also known as nonviolence, nonviolent resistance, or civil resistance can include (obstructing) sit-ins, [[strikes]], workplace occupations, street blockades or [[hacktivism]], while '''violent direct action''' may include political violence, [[terrorism]], or [[assault]]s. Tactics such as [[sabotage]] and property destruction can also be considered violent.

Both direct action and actions appealing to others can include nonviolent and [[violent]] activities which target [[person]]s, groups, or [[property]] deemed offensive to the action participants. Examples of '''nonviolent direct action''' (also known as nonviolence, nonviolent resistance, or civil resistance can include (obstructing) sit-ins, [[strikes]], workplace occupations, street blockades or [[hacktivism]], while '''violent direct action''' may include political violence, [[terrorism]], or [[assault]]s. Tactics such as [[sabotage]] and property destruction can also be considered violent.

By contrast, electoral [[politics]], [[diplomacy]], [[negotiation]], protests and [[arbitration]] are not usually described as direct action, as they are politically mediated. Non-violent actions are sometimes a form of [[civil disobedience]], and may involve a degree of intentional law-breaking where persons place themselves in arrestable situations in order to make a political statement but other actions (such as strikes) may not violate [[criminal]] law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gonzotimes.com/2011/09/strategies-for-the-struggle-strategy-2-direct-action/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=|deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003230943/http://www.gonzotimes.com/2011/09/strategies-for-the-struggle-strategy-2-direct-action/ |archivedate=2011-10-03 |df= }}</ref>

By contrast, electoral [[politics]], [[diplomacy]], [[negotiation]], protests and [[arbitration]] are not usually described as direct action, as they are politically mediated. Non-violent actions are sometimes a form of [[civil disobedience]], and may involve a degree of intentional law-breaking where persons place themselves in arrestable situations in order to make a political statement but other actions (such as strikes) may not violate [[criminal]] law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gonzotimes.com/2011/09/strategies-for-the-struggle-strategy-2-direct-action/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=|deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003230943/http://www.gonzotimes.com/2011/09/strategies-for-the-struggle-strategy-2-direct-action/ |archivedate=|df= }}</ref>

The aim of direct action is to either obstruct another political agent or political organization from performing some practice to which the activists object, or to solve perceived problems which traditional societal institutions ([[government]]s, religious organizations or established [[trade union]]s) are not addressing to the satisfaction of the direct action participants.

The aim of direct action is to either obstruct another political agent or political organization from performing some practice to which the activists object, or to solve perceived problems which traditional societal institutions ([[government]]s, religious organizations or established [[trade union]]s) are not addressing to the satisfaction of the direct action participants.

Non-violent direct action has historically been an assertive regular feature of the tactics employed by [[social movement]]s, including [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s Indian Independence Movement and the [[Civil Rights Movement]].

Non-violent direct action has historically been an assertive regular feature of the tactics employed by social movements, including [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s Indian Independence Movement and the [[Civil Rights Movement]].

==History==

==History==