What term describes the practice of achieving political change through nonviolent resistance and defiance?

The term that best describes the practice of achieving political change through nonviolent resistance and defiance is passive resistance. This concept involves methods that aim to enact change without the use of physical force, leveraging the power of civil disobedience and noncompliance to challenge unjust laws or practices.

Historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. utilized passive resistance techniques, promoting social justice by encouraging individuals to peacefully refuse to follow laws or commands they viewed as immoral. This strategy can effectively mobilize public opinion and bring attention to issues without resorting to violence, ultimately striving to create change through moral high ground and public awareness.

In contrast, coercion implies the use of threats or force to achieve compliance, while militancy usually refers to aggressive or combative actions for a cause. Insurgency denotes a rebellion against a constituted authority, often involving armed conflict rather than nonviolent methods. Therefore, passive resistance is the appropriate term for the described practice of fostering political change through peaceful means.