From Dictatorship to Democracy

Sharp, Gene

http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations/org/FDTD.pdf
http://www.connexions.org/CxLibrary/Docs/CX13636-Sharp-FromDictatorshipToDemocracy.pdf
Publisher: Albert Einstein Institution
Year First Published: {33154 From Dictatorship to Democracy FROM DICTATORSHIP TO DEMOCRACY Sharp, Gene http://www.aeinstein.org/organizations/org/FDTD.pdf http://www.connexions.org/CxLibrary/Docs/CX13636-Sharp-FromDictatorshipToDemocracy.pdf Albert Einstein Institution A short, serious introduction to nonviolent struggle, its applications, and strategic thinking. Based on pragmatic arguments, this piece presents nonviolent struggle as a realistic alternative to war and other violence in acute conflicts. It also contains a glossary of important terms and recommendations for further reading. 2002 2010 101pp BC33154-DictatorshiptoDemocracy.jpg PMP Pamphlet 1-880813-09-2 - Gene Sharp writes: I have tried to think carefully about the most effective ways in which dictatorships could be successfully disintegrated with the least possible cost in suffering and lives. In this I have drawn on my studies over many years of dictatorships, resistance movements, revolutions, political thought, governmental systems, and especially realistic nonviolent struggle. This publication is the result. Table of Contents Preface One Facing Dictatorships realistically 1 A continuing problem 2 Freedom through violence? 4 Coups, elections, foreign saviors? 5 Facing the hard truth 7 Two The Dangers of negotiations 9 Merits and limitations of negotiations 10 Negotiated surrender? 10 Power and justice in negotiations 12 'Agreeable' dictators 13 What kind of peace? 14 Reasons for hope 14 Three Whence comes the power? 17 The 'Monkey Master' fable 17 Necessary sources of political power 18 Centers of democratic power 21 Four Dictatorships have weaknesses 25 Identifying the Achilles’ heel 25 Weaknesses of dictatorships 26 Attacking weaknesses of dictatorships 27 Five Exercising power 29 The workings of nonviolent struggle 30 Nonviolent weapons and discipline 30 Openness, secrecy, and high standards 33 Shifting power relationships 34 Four mechanisms of change 35 Democratizing effects of political defiance 37 Complexity of nonviolent struggle 38 Six The need for strategic planning 39 Realistic planning 39 Hurdles to planning 40 Four important terms in strategic planning 43 Seven Planning strategy 47 Choice of means 48 Planning for democracy 49 External assistance 50 Formulating a grand strategy 50 Planning campaign strategies 53 Spreading the idea of noncooperation 55 Repression and countermeasures 56 Adhering to the strategic plan 57 Eight Applying political defiance 59 Selective resistance 59 Symbolic challenge 60 Spreading responsibility 61 Aiming at the dictators’ power 62 Shifts in strategy 64 Nine Disintegrating the Dictatorship 67 Escalating freedom 69 Disintegrating the dictatorship 70 Handling success responsibly 71 Ten Groundwork for durable democracy 73 Threats of a new dictatorship 73 Blocking coups 74 Constitution drafting 75 A democratic defense policy 76 A meritorious responsibility 76 Appendix One The methods of nonviolent action 79 Appendix Two Acknowledgements and notes on The story of From Dictatorship to Democracy 87 Appendix Three A note about translations and reprinting of this publication 91 For further reading 93 CX13636 1 true true false CX13636.htm [0xc000adaae0 0xc0006cfef0 0xc00165e630 0xc0004d8c90 0xc0005395f0 0xc000639e60 0xc0007e8db0] Cx}
Year Published: 2010
Pages: 101pp ISBN: 1-880813-09-2
Resource Type: Pamphlet
Cx Number: CX13636

A short, serious introduction to nonviolent struggle, its applications, and strategic thinking. Based on pragmatic arguments, this piece presents nonviolent struggle as a realistic alternative to war and other violence in acute conflicts. It also contains a glossary of important terms and recommendations for further reading.

Abstract:
-

Gene Sharp writes:
I have tried to think carefully about the most effective ways in which dictatorships could be successfully disintegrated with the least possible cost in suffering and lives. In this I have drawn on my studies over many years of dictatorships, resistance movements, revolutions, political thought, governmental systems, and especially realistic nonviolent struggle. This publication is the result.

Table of Contents

Preface

One
Facing Dictatorships realistically 1
A continuing problem 2
Freedom through violence? 4
Coups, elections, foreign saviors? 5
Facing the hard truth 7

Two
The Dangers of negotiations 9
Merits and limitations of negotiations 10
Negotiated surrender? 10
Power and justice in negotiations 12
'Agreeable' dictators 13
What kind of peace? 14
Reasons for hope 14

Three
Whence comes the power? 17
The 'Monkey Master' fable 17
Necessary sources of political power 18
Centers of democratic power 21

Four
Dictatorships have weaknesses 25
Identifying the Achilles’ heel 25
Weaknesses of dictatorships 26
Attacking weaknesses of dictatorships 27

Five
Exercising power 29
The workings of nonviolent struggle 30
Nonviolent weapons and discipline 30
Openness, secrecy, and high standards 33
Shifting power relationships 34
Four mechanisms of change 35
Democratizing effects of political defiance 37
Complexity of nonviolent struggle 38

Six
The need for strategic planning 39
Realistic planning 39
Hurdles to planning 40
Four important terms in strategic planning 43

Seven
Planning strategy 47
Choice of means 48
Planning for democracy 49
External assistance 50
Formulating a grand strategy 50
Planning campaign strategies 53
Spreading the idea of noncooperation 55
Repression and countermeasures 56
Adhering to the strategic plan 57

Eight
Applying political defiance 59
Selective resistance 59
Symbolic challenge 60
Spreading responsibility 61
Aiming at the dictators’ power 62
Shifts in strategy 64

Nine
Disintegrating the Dictatorship 67
Escalating freedom 69
Disintegrating the dictatorship 70
Handling success responsibly 71

Ten
Groundwork for durable democracy 73
Threats of a new dictatorship 73
Blocking coups 74
Constitution drafting 75
A democratic defense policy 76
A meritorious responsibility 76

Appendix One
The methods of nonviolent action 79

Appendix Two
Acknowledgements and notes on
The story of From Dictatorship to Democracy 87

Appendix Three
A note about translations and reprinting of this publication 91
For further reading 93

From Dictatorship to Democracy

Subject Headings