What This Is
You and a Few is a free, open-source toolkit for people who want to defend democratic institutions through nonviolent, evidence-based organizing.
It is not a political party. It is not an organization. It is not affiliated with any candidate, campaign, or ideology. It is a set of tools built on research — research that says the same thing, across every culture, every era, and every political context: small groups of committed people are the most reliable engine of social change that has ever existed.
Why it exists
Democratic institutions around the world are under sustained pressure — from authoritarian movements, from institutional erosion, from the normalization of political violence, and from the dehumanization of vulnerable communities.
Most people who are troubled by this don't know what to do about it. They feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure whether their individual action matters. The research says it does — profoundly — but only if it's organized, disciplined, and nonviolent.
This site exists to close the gap between concern and action.
What it's built on
The core framework comes from the work of political scientist Erica Chenoweth, whose research on 323 resistance campaigns (1900–2006) found that nonviolent movements are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts, and that every campaign reaching sustained participation from 3.5% of the population has succeeded.
The guides draw on social psychology (bystander effect, pluralistic ignorance, conformity research), strategic nonviolence theory (Gene Sharp's 198 methods), and institutional analysis (pillars of support framework).
For detailed citations, see the Sources page.
Who made this
This site was built by people who believe in democratic institutions and wanted to make the research actionable. All materials are free to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute for any nonviolent, pro-democracy purpose. No permission needed.
There is no organization behind this. There is no funding model. There is no membership list. The tools work whether you use them alone or with thousands of others.
Contact
Questions, corrections, or contributions: hello@youandafew.org