Nonviolent Social Movements: A Geographical Perspective

by Stephen Zunes (Editor), Sarah Beth Asher (Editor), Lester Kurtz (Editor)

Nonviolent Social Movements is the first book to offer a truly global overview of the dramatic growth of popular nonviolent struggles in recent years. From the civil rights movement in the United States, and the "People Power" movement in the Philippines, to the pro-democracy movements of Asia, Latin America, and Europe, nonviolent action has emerged as a key element of political change in recent decades.

This volume seeks to provide an understanding of the extent to which organized nonviolent action can be used to replace violent struggle. It brings together case studies from around the world to demonstrate how nonviolent action works and what possibilities and limitations it holds for achieving social change and deterring aggressors.

Nonviolence and power in the twentieth century / Kenneth E. Boulding --
You can't kill the spirit : women and nonviolent action / Pam McAllister --
Unarmed resistance in the Middle East and North Africa / Stephen Zunes --
Nonviolent resistance in the occupied territories : a critical reevaluation / Souad Dajani --
Grassroots movement in Germany, 1972-1985 / Matthew Lyons --
"We have bare hands" : nonviolent social movements in the Soviet Bloc / Lee Smithey and Lester R. Kurtz --
Origins of people power in the Philippines / Stephen Zunes --
Imagery in the 1992 nonviolent uprising in Thailand / Chaiwat Satha-Anand --
Violent and nonviolent struggle in Burma : is a united strategy workable? / Michael A. Beer --
Ogoni struggle for human rights and a civil society in Nigeria / Joshua Cooper --
Role of nonviolence in the downfall of Apartheid / Stephen Zunes --
Advocating nonviolent direct action in Latin America : the antecedents and emergence of SERPAJ / Ronald Pagnucco and John D. McCarthy --
Brazilian church-state crisis of 1980 : effective nonviolent action in a military dictatorship / Daniel Zirker --
Nonviolent social movements in the United States : a historical overview / Charles Chatfield

Genres: Politics, Activism

330 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1999

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting (but very academic) overview of non-violent movements around the world, starting in the early 20th century, with primary focus on the 1960-1990 period of time. I would call this an 'anecdotal' compendium containing summaries of the movements that are covered; unlike Chenoweth's 'Civil Resistance', which is based on statistical analysis (and was written 20 years later).