Pillars of support
Pillars of support are "institutions and sections of the society that supply the existing regime with sources of power required for maintenance and expansion of its power capacity." - Gene Sharp in Waging Nonviolent Struggle [1]
How do pillars of support work?
People are the main holders of power in society. They are more effective at exercising power when they work together in the form of organizations or institutions, such as the police, civil servants, labor groups, business groups, etc. These supporting organizations each fall into 'pillars of support' because they support the power structure in society.
When organizations and institutions withdraw their support from an opponent, the opponent will no longer be able to maintain power.
Examples of pillars of support
Pillars of support illustrated by the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict:
