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Conditions which enhance the success of a non violent movement

Conditions which enhance the success of a non violent movement . Conditions within the oppressor Conditions within the oppressed Conditions based on existing social structures Conditions with external sources. Conditions with the Oppressor.

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Conditions which enhance the success of a non violent movement

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  1. Conditions which enhance the success of a non violent movement • Conditions within the oppressor • Conditions within the oppressed • Conditions based on existing social structures • Conditions with external sources

  2. Conditions with the Oppressor

  3. Gene Sharp’s theory of Non Violence strategy= Useful ? • Sharp fails to highlight that in some cases the ‘will of the oppressor’ is an important condition in enhancing the success of a non violent strategy.

  4. Will of the Opponent • What determines the will of the opponent • Moral Conscience • Do they see the opponent as inherently equal or human • Danes viewed as part of Aryan race – retaliation restrained • Nazi Germany – Jews seen as ‘rats’ sub human • Jewish non violent resisters concealed their identity as ‘Polish non Jews’ in order to enhance the success of their movement - RACHEL L. EINWOHNER • Palestine – Palestinians lacked the same rights as Israelis not seen as equal • ‘Israel wants to rule the land of Palestine not the people’ • Burma – government dehumanised protestors • Effect – Legitimises extreme and brutal retaliation to non violence – The likelihood of success diminished

  5. Will of the Opponent • Why is it important ? • Brutal retaliation to non violent acts • Prepared to pay an exceptionally high price to sustain its rule • The more the oppressor views the opponent as equal or important the less they will retaliate with extreme and indiscriminate violence = more chance of success

  6. But there's cases were non violence has succeed in the face of extreme violence ? • Argentina 1970s- • Government Extremely Repressive • Non violent protestors were abducted and killed • A group of mothers of the disappeared surprised everyone by marching every week in the heart of Buenos Aires. • The regime realised they couldn’t beat or arrest these women without alienating more people, so they were tolerated • Eventually they won and Argentina returned to being a democracy • Does this prove that the ‘will of the opponent’ does not matter? • Mothers and grandmothers protesting the disappearances of their loved ones emphasized their maternal identity, which, as a highly valued status in Latin America, afforded them a certain amount of protection from the military regime

  7. Conditions within the Opressed

  8. Increasing the Chances for Success: Factors Associated with the Non Violent Struggle Group • 1. Willingness to act • 2. Strength of the struggle group • 3. Knowledge of non violent struggle • 4. Adoption of wise strategic plans • 5. Skilful implementation of the adopted strategic plans • (from Gene Sharp Politics of Non Violent Action, page 440)

  9. Increasing the Chances for Success: Factors Associated with the Non Violent Struggle Group • Willingness to Act • Confidence • Belief in the Cause • Strength of the Struggle Group • Persistence • Numbers • Organisation

  10. Increasing the Chances for Success: Factors Associated with the Non Violent Struggle Group • Knowledge of non violent struggle • Gandhi influences • Martin Luther King • Serbia

  11. Increasing the Chances for Success: Factors Associated with the Non Violent Struggle Group • Adoption of wise strategic plans - Symbolic - Noncooperation and intervention • Skilful implementation of the adopted strategic plans - Salt Marches - Lunch Counter Protests - China and Burma

  12. Social Structures

  13. Possible Conditions to Consider • Educational Infrastructure • Are students integral to movements’ success? • Serbia • South Africa • Nashville Sit-Ins • However: Burma, China. Many movements have not need a strong student-based core. • Religion • Integral to both Gandhi and King’s theories and leadership style. • See also the Iranian Revolution.

  14. More Conditions Worth Considering • Relationship between oppressor and the oppressed. • Helpful to have a certain disconnect? • Eg. Danish protests v. Nazi Germany; Protests against colonial govt. (India) • Or perhaps a strong bond between oppressor and oppressed? • American Civil Rights Movement • Cultural Conditions • Role of the family in society? • Collective v. Individualistic states?

  15. External Conditions

  16. An active role of international actors is decisive for: • Increasing the pressure on the opponent group. South Africa’s case. • Strengthening the oppressed part in their nonviolent resistance pace, consolidating the group solidarity and their belief in nonviolent means. First Palestinian Intifada’s case. ROLE OF THIRD PARTIES

  17. The central role of the media in attracting international attention: • Gandhi, man of the year for Times magazines (1930): support for Indian independence. • Walesa, Nobel Peace Prize (1983): a way of unifying the nation.

  18. The importance of not overestimating the role of the international community in helping nonviolent struggle. South Africa’s case (Ackerman and Duvall’s interpretation) .

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