What does rice pudding have to do with revolution?
Srdja Popovic is a Serbian biologist, political activist and executive director of the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies (CANVAS, www.canvasopedia.org). He was a leader of the student movement Otpor that helped topple Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic. As the director of CANVAS, Popovic has consulted with revolutionary activists from Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, the Georgian Republic, the Maldives, and many others. The 2002 documentary Bringing Down A Dictator, narrated by Martin Sheen and featuring Popovic, aired on PBS, and since then Popovic's star has consistently been on the rise. He has been featured by The Atlantic and The Economist, was selected by Foreign Policy as one of its top 10 choices to receive the Nobel Peace prize had it not be awarded to the EU, was selected by Wired as one of 50 people who will change the world, and by the World Economic Forum as one of their Young Global Leaders for 2013. You can watch his talk, How To Topple A Dictator on TED.com.
‘Brilliant … Full of knowing cultural references, witty asides and
awareness of the reader … Make sure you give it to your friends
after you’ve read it.’
*The Guardian*
‘When I was growing up, we dreamed that young people could bring
down those who misused their power and create a more just and
democratic society. But for Srdja Popovic, living in Belgrade in
1998, this same dream was potentially a much more dangerous idea.
But with an extraordinarily courageous group of students that
formed Otpor, Srdja used imagination, invention, cunning and lots
of humour to create a movement that not only succeeded in toppling
the brutal dictator Slobodan Milosevic, but has become a blueprint
for non-violent revolution around the world. Through his
experiences, his organisation Canvas, and now, with this wonderful
book, he is inspiring ordinary people facing injustice and
oppression to use this toolkit to challenge their oppressors and
create something much better. Srdja rules!’
*Peter Gabriel*
‘Blueprint for Revolution is not only a spirited guide to changing
the world, but a breakthrough in the annals of advice for those who
seek justice and democracy: It asks (and not heavy-handedly): as
long as you want to change the world, why not do it joyfully? It’s
not only funny, but seriously funny. No joke.’
*Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties and Occupy Nation*
‘Highly readable … combining an entertaining primer on the theory
and practice of peaceful protest with a very personal account of
[Popovic’s] own involvement with it.’
*Guardian*
‘The title is no exaggeration … Popovic cheerfully blows up just
about every idea most people hold about nonviolent struggle.’
*Tina Rosenberg*
‘An ideological starter kit for understanding how nonviolent
movements can be effective against highly militarized regimes …
[Popovic] offers a clear, well-constructed, and easily applicable
set of principles for any David facing any Goliath (sans slingshot,
of course).’
*The Boston Globe*
‘A worthwhile, funny, heartfelt and thought-provoking book … [Srdja
Popovic’s] energised prose is sometimes convincing, always likeable
and has the gusto of a young Iggy Pop.’
*Big Issue*
'[D]oes much to demystify the daunting business of bringing about
social change.' PICK OF THE WEEK
*Sydney Morning Herald*
‘An inspiring guide for protest movements around the world … There
is undoubtably an innate wisdom, a voice of hope and another of
principles and practicalities in Popovic’s mission to show
communities how to defeat the most wicked of despots.’
*Camden New Journal*
‘[S]hows how real people can use ingenious and sometimes bafflingly
odd methods to bring down brutal rulers.’
*Sunday Star Times*
‘[F]ascinating and entertaining … Anyone with an appetite for
change should find real value here.’
*North and South*
‘Required reading for all activists. You know who's going to change
the world? You are.’
*Moby*
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