TO BE VIOLENT OR CIVIL: WHY RESISTANCES CHOOSE THEIR STRATEGIC STRATEGY
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Authors
Coombs, Robert A.
Subjects
civil resistance
unconventional warfare
resistance
nonviolent resistance
ethnic violence
democide
state violence
insurgency
Tibet
East Timor
West Sahara
Saharawi
unconventional warfare
resistance
nonviolent resistance
ethnic violence
democide
state violence
insurgency
Tibet
East Timor
West Sahara
Saharawi
Advisors
Warren, Timothy C.
Date of Issue
2019-12
Date
Dec-19
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The focus of this thesis is to develop an understanding of where civil resistances are likely to occur as opposed to violent insurgencies. This work explores the relationship between the ethnic power structures within a state and the propensity for civil resistance. It further conducts a game theoretic analysis of the choice between violence and non-violence by a civil resistance, compared to a state's choice of repression or counterinsurgency. Finally, this thesis examines a series of three case studies of violent insurgencies that have transitioned to non-violent civil resistance to identify commonalities in the circumstances that led to an insurgency changing its strategy. This research provides a new approach for the study of civil resistance by analyzing a resistance's choice as a strategic decision based on environmental and ethnic structures. The work furthers research into why resistance leaders choose specific strategies, and under what circumstances states may influence the strategic decisions of a resistance.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.