I know what you're talking about, but there are tons of problems with that study, mainly ignoring the radical flank effect and failing to account for the fact that a weaker regime will be less able to enforce its will using violence.

Please cite said studies. Apologies, but I can't read anything on the internet without assuming it's complete bullshit without sources

Bullshit. We're not talking about gaining political rights in peacetime. You will not stop a genocidal army with words and flowers.

And honestly, at this point implying otherwise is almost on complicity territory

The Velvet Revolution was only peaceful because it was inevitable. It's not nearly that simple when the political winds are against you or even neutral, as seen in Syria. This is also why Romania, which was politically isolated from the Eastern Bloc, went into violent revolt.