A
nonviolent revolution is a
revolution using mostly campaigns of
civil resistance, including various forms of
nonviolent protest, to bring about the departure of governments seen as entrenched and
authoritarian. While many campaigns of civil resistance are intended for much more limited goals than revolution, generally a nonviolent revolution is characterized by simultaneous advocacy of
democracy,
human rights, and
national independence in the country concerned. In some cases a campaign of civil resistance with a revolutionary purpose may be able to bring about the defeat of a dictatorial regime only if it obtains a degree of support from the armed forces, or at least their benevolent neutrality.