Force is used to bring about change. Change can be brought about both by violent means and non-violent means. The greatness of means would depend on the extent, amount and the lasting nature of change. Eg: Though violence brings temporary peace its repercussions are pernicious. Though World War 1 brought momentary peace, it also invited the wrath of Second World War.
Thus Mahatma Gandhi considered Non-violence as the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. He used it as a weapon to fight injustice and formed an element of the Satyagraha.
Though non-violent means requires supreme sacrifice by a person it provides huge persuasion power. It touches the conscience of people and nation. It gives courage is power to resist fear and to fight injustice. It helps to inculcate fortitude and moral conviction. Gandhiji utilized this during non-cooperation movement and civil disobedience movement. It wins the heart and mind of people and brings about attitudinal change. For instance, negotiations were successful in winning over naxals in JangalMahal in West Bengal.
However non-violence works effectively if the confronting party has reasonable emotional intelligence and is willing to change. Gandhiji for instance refused to condemn violence during quit India movement seeing non-accommodating nature of British goverment. Similarly present crisis developed by ISIS in Middle East cannot be dealt effectively without force.Like diamond cuts diamond, in some cases violent means are necessary to counter attack violent attacks.
Non-violence may not always work, but we do not have a greater force at our disposal.
