Waging Nonviolent Struggle

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the book "Waging Nonviolent Struggle: 20th Century Practice and 21st Century Potential" by author and professor of political science, Gene Sharp. The paper explains that according to Sharp, the key to effective nonviolent struggle is the role of strategic planning, a topic this book focuses heavily on. The paper looks at how the book is presented with an introduction regarding the relationship between nonviolent struggle and political power. The paper then points out that the remainder of the book is comprised of twenty-three case studies of various, "improvised nonviolent campaigns in the 20th century selected on the basis of types of actions employed." The paper also notes that following the case studies, there is an in depth analysis of the specific dynamics of how a nonviolent struggle operates, along with a presentation of guidelines on how one can strategically plan for a nonviolent struggle.

From the Paper:

"In presenting his case studies, Sharp is able to debunk numerous myths and misconceptions about the use of nonviolent struggle. For instance, the case studies present real examples of how nonviolence is not ineffective against dictatorships and genocide or that all nonviolent struggles rely on an appeal to the general moral character of the opponent. Instead these case studies demonstrate how, when strategic planning is employed, nonviolent struggles, such as economic boycotts and social noncompliance, can lead to a highly disciplined and thus successful movements that also create substantially lower overall mortality rates and less incidences of collateral damage, such as the killing of innocent civilians."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hobbes, Thomas. (2004): Leviathan. New York: Barnes & Noble Books (Library of Essential Reading Series).
• Jones, Martin. (2006): Conflict. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Sharp, Gene. (2005): Waging Nonviolent Struggle: 20th Century Practice and 21st Century Potential. New York: Porter Sargent Publishers, Inc.

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