Rebel's Notebook
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Data Driven Activism

The Rebel's Notebook is a data-driven way to learn from history and support you in making the right choices for your case. The system is trained on tried-and-true tactics from over a thousand struggles before yours. I've dug through the data of history's underdogs; the marches, the boycotts, the sit-ins, to find what works.

Though this can never be more than a supportive tool in your arsenal, activism is just too complex and specific, it will hopefully give you an edge in fighting overwhelmingly powerful systems, corporations and governments.

A method from the kit

092 Domestic Embargo

092 Domestic Embargo
Success rate 67%
Average rating 7.3/10
Usage frequency 3 cases

"A domestic embargo may be briefly defined as an economic boycott initiated by the government to operate within its own country. This method of noncooperation was...

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You are not alone: Explore global Tactics

A story you should know

Environmentalist Groups Prevent The Construction Of Danube River Dam, Hungary, 1984-1989

The governments of Czechoslovakia and Hungary first planned to build dams in Gabickovo, and Nagymaros as a large-scale navigation and hydroelectric power system in the 1950s. For the first thirty years of planning, the repressive politics of the Soviet regime kept dissent to a minimum. However,...

Tactics used

Assemblies Of Protest Or Support
nonviolent protest and persuasion
Group Or Mass Petitions
nonviolent protest and persuasion
Leaflets Pamphlets And Books
nonviolent protest and persuasion
Marches
nonviolent protest and persuasion

Ready to build your plan?

The stories are endless, the methods are proven. But this is about your fight. Move from inspiration to action with the strategic planner. As you make changes to your plan like; pinning a key tactic, excluding another, or giving feedback; the Notebook's machine learning system instantly reassess everything. Pinning a method you believe in tells the system, "This is important," and it will immediately find other actions that work well with it. This creates a "ripple effect" across your entire plan, helping you optimize your strategy holistically and ensuring every action you take hit harder.

Standing on the shoulders of giants

I didn't build this alone. This notebook is powered by the tireless work of researchers, historians, and fellow activists. Here are some of the giants whose work you should know.

Global Nonviolent Action Database
The bedrock of this project. A team at Swarthmore College painstakingly documented over 1,400 struggles, creating the most comprehensive record of nonviolent action in the world. Their data gives us the patterns; I help you apply them.
The NAVCO Database
The academic muscle. The NAVCO project is a massive research effort that directly compares violent and nonviolent campaigns. Their data provides the hard proof that strategic, nonviolent action isn't just moral—it's more effective.
The Commons Social Change Library
An open-source library for campaigners. They collect and distribute an incredible range of resources—from guides on running meetings to deep dives on movement strategy. An essential bookmark for any organizer.
Forensic Architecture
The investigators of power. Forensic Architecture is a research agency that uses architectural techniques to investigate human rights violations by states and corporations. They use 3D modeling, virtual reality, and open-source data to reconstruct events and build cases for international courts and civil society groups.
WITNESS.org
The eyes on the ground. WITNESS helps activists around the world use video and technology to document the truth and fight for justice. They provide the tools and training to turn raw footage into powerful evidence.
Waging Nonviolence
A daily source of news and analysis about social movements around the world. They tell the stories of struggles as they happen, offering strategy and reflection from the people on the ground.