About Book

Activism under Fire offers a deeply researched account of how nonviolent political activism persists and adapts in violent urban environments. Anjuli Fahlberg focuses on Cidade de Deus—one of Rio de Janeiro’s most infamous favelas—where residents have endured decades of violent oppression from both gangs and corrupt state agents. Drawing on participatory action research, virtual ethnography, and long-term fieldwork, the book unveils how local activists carve out spaces for peaceful resistance, democratic expression, and civic engagement. It particularly examines the intersection of race, gender, and violence, and how activists build community alternatives to state and criminal violence through education, art, and local governance. Relevance to the Current Era & Community Engagement Mechanism: The book is highly relevant in the context of rising authoritarianism, urban militarization, and systemic injustice. It offers models of resistance that are applicable to communities facing similar struggles worldwide. Engagement strategies inspired by this book may include local peace councils, community-led education initiatives, arts-based rehabilitation programs, and advocacy for marginalized voices within urban conflict zones. Its participatory and gender-sensitive framework offers applicable methodologies for NGOs and civic educators working in volatile environments. This is a groundbreaking study in urban nonviolence, political resilience, and community leadership. Its interdisciplinary depth and grounded field research make it a crucial contribution to peacebuilding and urban justice literature.