Use When
Regimes require loyalty oaths or ideological vetting for public jobs.
Blacklists and do‑not‑hire lists target organizers or dissidents.
Advisory boards are stacked to rubber‑stamp policy.
Instructions
- 1
Define illegitimacy criteria and specific conditions for re-engagement, including oaths and blacklists.
- 2
Build cross-professional coalitions using secure communication hubs to coordinate collective actions safely.
- 3
Prepare legal memos, whistleblower channels, and evidence repositories to protect and document participants.
- 4
Publish unified refusal statements, template replies, and a roster of credible, ethical alternative experts.
- 5
Manage media spokespeople and brief donors and employers on critical professional protection measures.
- 6
Track declined offers and quantify impact, maintaining an off-ramp tied to concrete reforms.
Historic Parallels
- Philippines, 1986, officials and diplomats refused regime appointments, contributing to a peaceful transition and constitutional restoration.
- Czechoslovakia, 1989, mass refusals to serve party bodies, catalyzing negotiations and free elections.
- Nepal, 2006, professionals rejected royal authority roles, aiding restoration of parliament and democratic transition.
Philippines, 1986, officials and diplomats refused regime appointments, contributing to a peaceful transition and constitutional restoration.Modern Examples
- National associations of doctors, engineers, and auditors jointly refuse appointments to “emergency” task forces until procurement transparency and conflict‑of‑interest rules are adopted.
- University researchers decline seats on ministerial review panels, publish independent impact assessments, and suggest vetted alternates via an open, conflict‑screened roster.
- Experts reject political posts, archive offers for oversight, and serve through NGOs instead.
Participants
Individual
Yes
8–20 core coordinators (legal, media, sector liaisons, digital security, documentation) plus profession‑specific captains to manage templates, evidence, and outreach.
Helpful Materials
- Declination letter
- Public statement templates
- Legal memos on compelled speech, contempt, and licensing risks
- Portable megaphones for pressers
References
- ICNC, Civil Resistance Tactics in the 21st Century, 2021
- OECD, Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Service, 2003
- UNODC, United Nations Convention against Corruption, 2003
- ARTICLE 19, The Right to Protest: Principles, 2016
- Keyishian v. Board of Regents, 1967
- Elrod v. Burns, 1976; Branti v. Finkel, 1980; Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois, 1990
Use of Action Playbook educational materials must adhere with Unruled Masses’ Terms of Service.
Stay Nonviolent. Coordinate Strategically. Take Back Your Power.