Highly visible protest in public space: huge police presence, violent counter protesters, unable to build pressure to force change. Human Cost: 2,000 people brutalized, gassed, and doxxed.
Direct action by dedicated, anonymous covert operatives: inhibits, delays, and frustrates the state and it's ability to repress dissent. Human Cost: A couple of people throw away some incriminating clothes, lay low, then move on with their lives.
About to write up a longer post about this but small group direct action tactics can help build up capabilities for larger actions. Remember that the basic unit that makes up the black bloc is the affinity group or cadre cell.
Direct action by dedicated, anonymous covert operatives: inhibits, delays, and frustrates the state and it's ability to repress dissent. Human Cost: A couple of people throw away some incriminating clothes, lay low, then move on with their lives.
Uhhhh, the 60s and 70s seem to suggest otherwise. As does the early 1900s.
BTW I'm not just referencing the MLK Jr. nonviolence bias over BPP that many lib historians have where they try to downplay the necessity of more active resistance against oppression.
The explosion of the Bandung decolonization movement was critical as well, which is often left out in favor of mentioning the USSR's existence forcing the first world to maintain social services and welfare.