From Dictatorship to Democracy (Gene Sharp)

From Dictatorship to Democracy, A Conceptual Framework for Liberation is a book-length essay on the generic problem of how to destroy a dictatorship and to prevent the rise of a new one. Authored by Gene Sharp (1928-2018), in 1993.

14 flashcards · Politics · by lakesare

What's coup d'état? Кю ДетА
Coup d'état is the removal of an existing government from power, usually through violent means. Typically, it is an illegal, unconstitutional seizure of power by a political faction, the military, or a dictator. Many scholars consider a coup d'état successful when the usurpers seize and hold power for at least seven days. Coups d’état are and will remain a common occurrence. Basic human and political rights will continue to be denied to vast numbers of peoples. French: [ku deta], literally "blo…
What is Guerrilla warfare?
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactics, and mobility, to fight a larger and less-mobile traditional military. In russian - Партизанская война
Guerilla warfareWhat does guerilla mean in Spanish?
Diminutive of war. The Spanish word guerrilla is the diminutive form of guerra ('war'). The term became popular during the early-19th century Peninsular War, when the Spanish and Portuguese people rose against the Napoleonic troops and fought against a highly superior army using the guerrilla strategy. In correct Spanish usage, a person who is a member of a guerrilla unit is a guerrillero ([ɣeriˈʎeɾo]) if male, or a guerrillera ([ɣeriˈʎeɾa]) if female.
What's plebiscite?
Referendum, - or the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on a particular proposal (such as a change in the constitution). In russian - Референдум
It is our contention, to be explored later in more detail, that political defiance, or nonviolent struggle, is the most powerful means available to those struggling for freedom.
An assertion, especially one maintained in argument.
Submission to cruel oppression and passive acquiescence to ruthless dictators is no real peace.
The reluctant acceptance of something without protest. Russian: аквиесенс
In contrast, the dictatorship usually will have access to vast material resources, organizational strength, and ability to perpetrate brutalities.
Carry out or commit a harmful action (or illegal, or immoral)
Further, democratic negotiators, or foreign negotiation specialists accepted to assist in the negotiations, may in a single stroke provide the dictators with the domestic and international legitimacy that they had been previously denied because of their seizure of the state, human rights violations, and brutalities.
The old preconception that violent means always work quickly and nonviolent means always require vast time is clearly not valid. Although much time may be required for changes in the underlying situation and society, the actual fight against a dictatorship sometimes occurs relatively quickly by nonviolent struggle.
About two hundred specific methods of nonviolent action have been identified, and there are certainly scores more. These methods are classified under three broad categories: protest and persuasion, noncooperation, and intervention.
For example, disciplined courageous nonviolent resistance in face of the dictators’ brutalities may induce unease, disaffection, unreliability, and in extreme situations even mutiny among the dictators’ own soldiers and population. This resistance may also result in increased international condemnation of the dictatorship. In addition, skillful, disciplined, and persistent use of political defiance may result in more and more participation in the resistance by people who normally would give the…
Fundamental questions that need to be answered by opposition.
What factors will facilitate achieving freedom? • What are the main strengths of the dictatorship? What are the various weaknesses of the dictatorship? To what degree are the sources of power for the dictatorship vulnerable? What are the strengths of the democratic forces and the general population? What are the weaknesses of the democratic forces and how can they be corrected? What is the status of third parties, not immediately involved in the conflict, who already assist or might assist, eit…
What are the strategy questions that need to be assessed?
What factors will facilitate achieving freedom? What are the main strengths of the dictatorship? What are the various weaknesses of the dictatorship? To what degree are the sources of power for the dictatorship vulnerable? What are the strengths of the democratic forces and the general population? What are the weaknesses of the democratic forces and how can they be corrected? What is the status of third parties, not immediately involved in the conflict, who already assist or might assist, eithe…
Why is coup d'état not desirable?
The experience of once exercising effective power is not quickly forgot. Under the dictatorship the population and civil institutions of the society have been too weak, and the government too strong. Without a change in this imbalance, a new set of rulers can, if they wish, be just as dictatorial as the old ones. A “palace revolution” or a coup d’état therefore is not welcome. Political defiance contributes to a more equitable distribution of effective power through the mobilization of the soci…
What's embargo?
An official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.
Unfortunately, this is not a time for a reduction in vigilance.
The action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.