Notice: This is the official website of the All Empires History Community (Reg. 10 Feb 2002)

  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Power is consent: meet strategic nonviolence
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
hugoestr View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 13-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3987 		  Quote hugoestr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Power is consent: meet strategic nonviolence
    Posted: 26-Mar-2008 at 13:19
Here is an interesting theory of political power, which has strong repercussions on historical analyses and political action.

I will be defending this theory. Discuss this presentation of Gene Sharp's theory of power.

The theory can be stated simply: Power, even in the most closed and brutal dictatorship, depends on consent. Ordinary people can band together to withdraw their consent. Movements succeed when they refuse to resort to violence, since the regime always possesses superior instruments of violence. Ergo, the future of democracy and freedom depends on nonviolence.


http://www.ohiostatealumni.org/newscenter/sharp.php
Back to Top
gcle2003 View Drop Down
King
King

Suspended

Joined: 06-Dec-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7035 		  Quote gcle2003 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-Mar-2008 at 11:05

Movements succeed when they refuse to resort to violence, since the regime always possesses superior instruments of violence.

Not always, though usually is probably true. Consider 1917 and 1789-93 (or Napoleon's later seizure of power). Or Vietnam in the 60s and 70s. Or the English Civil War.
 
Foreign assistance needs to be taken into account too.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a [Free Express Edition]
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.079 seconds.