Structural violence is often referred to as ˜hidden' violence, as it is not as visible as direct violence in that the perpetrator has no need to be present in the act and that it is usually over a long period of time. An example of this are trade agreements that create debt and poverty, putting peoples lives at risk through denying them access to basic necessities (Bourgois et al, 2004). .
There are different levels of Non-violent resistance, and Non-violence itself is a highly contested subject amongst activists worldwide. James Scott (1987) highlights everyday forms of non-violent resistance for example sit-ins, boycotts, marches, occupations, and a slow-down of workers in order to affect the company in the name of wrongdoings by the oppressive actions of their employers. These forms of resistance have had success and failures, both notable success and failure can be given to the trade union movements throughout history ( Della Porta & Diani, 1999), although many of these same forms of resistance are applicable to almost all peaceful protest movements. Sharp (1968:2005) has looked extensively into non-violence and claimed there are 198 forms of non-violent resistance. Non-violent resistance has taken many forms and been given a variety of names be it "pacifism " "non-violent resistance " or "passive resistance " (ibid) whatever name it is given it should be understood there is a scale of resistance and most activists will place themselves on that scale where they feel most confident both morally and legally.
To define violence as legitimate in the use of the word given to a legal stature of behavioral conduct does not shed light on the often immoral level of violence used by those who decide what legitimate is (i.e the state who involves themselves in violence through an act of war in the name of national security but often with other underlying intentions) (Stillman, 1974: Zelditch Jnr, 2001).