Gene Sharp: Interview

Author of the nonviolent revolution rulebook

BBC: Gene Sharp is the world's foremost expert on non-violent revolution. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages, his books slipped across borders and hidden from secret policemen all over the world. As Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia and Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine fell to the colour revolutions which swept across Eastern Europe, each of the democratic movements paid tribute to Sharp's contribution, yet he remained largely unknown to the public. After the Green uprising in Iran in 2009 many of the protesters were accused at their trials of using more than 100 of Sharp's 198 methods >>>

from Ghormeh Sabzi
23-Feb-2011
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vildemose

First, successful

by vildemose on Wed Feb 23, 2011 07:18 PM PST

First, successful nonviolent resistance is based on overcoming fear and obedience. "Despotic regimes, rather than ruling through absolute violence, typically rely on a noxious mixture of propaganda, patronage, apathy, political legitimacy, and a calibrated use of public and covert violence to generate a blanket of fear."

Secondly "Power always depends for its strength and existence upon a replenishment of its sources by the cooperation of numerous institutions and people -- cooperation that does not have to continue. Nonviolent resistance can leverage immense economic and political pressure because a regime relies on its citizens for labor and expertise. Targeted noncooperation can be devastating."

 

Third, nonviolent discipline can be one of the most critical strategies in the protester's plan. If the state is seen as violent and repressive, then the state's cause is discredited.

One hopes that the resistance sweeping many countries leads to vital, democratic voices for its peoples.

 //www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/02/the-power-of-nonviolent-resistance/71544/

 


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Soosan Khanoom

he has great points ,  "As

by Soosan Khanoom on Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:56 AM PST

he has great points , 

"As soon as you choose to fight with violence you're choosing to fight against your opponents best weapons and you have to be smarter than that," . 


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