How can you be more participative in civil society? Ask Aakar Patel

September 27, 2022 10:26

From India to the United States to Hong Kong, democratic societies have seen movements that have brought about change. They have one thing in common: large scale participation by civil society and individuals and the absence of organised political parties. How can individuals make their participation more effective?

The Anarchist Cookbook: A Toolkit to Protest and Peaceful Resistance by Aakar Patel talks about ways in which the best campaigning organisations in the world effect change in democratic societies, how a citizen can engage with others who are like-minded, and how vibrant and participative action by citizens makes democracy better and more responsive.

Featuring political cartoons that have the power to inspire, outrage or amuse, The Anarchist Cookbook is a book for our times.

According to the author, Aakar Patel, "Democracy doesn't end at the ballot box. Voting is only one aspect of citizen participation in influencing government. There are other powers our constitution has given us with, that are often unused, and certainly more unused than the vote. If you are troubled by what you see around you in the world, this book helps you take agency and act in a way that is effective and has worked around the world."

Aakar Patel is a writer and human rights activist based in Bangalore. He is chair of Amnesty International India.

The book has been published by Harpercollins.

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