Publication
Strategic nonviolence : an effective instrument for democratic regime change?
| datacite.subject.fos | Ciências Sociais::Ciências Políticas | pt_PT |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Ramos, António Fontes | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Garcia, Francisco Proença | |
| dc.contributor.author | Hollis-Leick, Harriet | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-02T11:20:14Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-08-02T11:20:14Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017-02-22 | |
| dc.date.submitted | 2016-11 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This thesis examines whether strategic nonviolence can be an effective instrument for the removal of dictators and their replacement with democratic governments. Firstly, it introduces the ‘traditional’ method of regime change – political violence, and details how it has been legitimised through diverse ideological currents for the past millennia. Ultimately, however, political violence is shown to be of doubtful legitimacy and poor efficacy, both due to the devastation it causes, and because historically it has tended to produce authoritarianism and tyranny. The discussion then moves to the search for an alternative and considers strategic nonviolence as a possible candidate. Its origins as a strategy for political resistance are traced and its conceptual foundations are explored through reference to one of the most influential nonviolence strategists, Gene Sharp. The thesis then aims to propose a comprehensive strategy for the nonviolent removal of dictators and their replacement with democratic regimes. For its theoretical foundations this strategy draws upon the work of Gene Sharp and Robert Helvey, though their contributions are developed and supplemented through reference to numerous other authors. In chapter 3, we finally outline a possible strategy for nonviolent regime change and the installation of democratic governance. In annex 7 this theoretical framework is empirically tested through a case study examination of the Serbian ‘Bulldozer’ revolution, in which Slobodan Milosevic was nonviolently overthrown in 2000. Through this case study, the strategy proposed in chapter 3 is shown to be effective, although its outcome is found to dependent upon factors present in the political environment, such as structure, timing, the extent of grievances and opportunities. The importance of strengthening the ‘pillars’ of democratic society is also emphasised. These factors are only scarcely discussed by either Sharp or Helvey, and it is thus argued that they constitute gaps in their theoretical framework. | pt_PT |
| dc.identifier.tid | 201867532 | pt_PT |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/46023 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | pt_PT |
| dc.title | Strategic nonviolence : an effective instrument for democratic regime change? | pt_PT |
| dc.type | master thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| rcaap.rights | restrictedAccess | pt_PT |
| rcaap.type | masterThesis | pt_PT |
| thesis.degree.name | Mestrado em Ciência Política e Relações Internacionais: Segurança e Defesa | pt_PT |