Resistance is a bookshop of left-wing and "alternative" publications that doubles as a radical action centre. It was founded in Cuba Street in August 1970, and gutted by a mysterious fire in November. By March 1971, however, it was re-established and is now going stronger than ever at its present Willis Street site. Since its founding stock value has increased from $300 to about $2000. Public interest, however, has not increased comparably. Many active radicals have turned into armchair revolutionaries, the type that uses Resistance as a bookshop for important ideas but ignores its functions and potential for organisation and action.

As originally conceived, Resistance is a form of co-operative, with many people participating. If the willingness of people to help falls away, it weakens the basis of the shop. Resistance is still run on considerably different lines to ordinary bookshops, but is slowly moving towards their system of organisation.