Non-Violent Means to Democracy: Gene Sharp

It is not easy to achieve democracy. It is also a struggle at times to maintain one. Here in the USA, we are fortunate that the authoritarian political party, the Republican Party, lies in defeat, a victim of its own irrational and destructive policies. Other countries are not so fortunate. In some countries our democratic brothers and sisters risk their lives and livelihoods to achieve the dream.

A recent news item concerning the post-election protests in Iran mentioned that democratic protesters in several authoritarian countries have relied upon a book by an American social theorist, Gene Sharp, titled From Freedom to Democracy. You can obtain a free copy here.

The underlying idea is a corollary to what I wrote in an earlier post, The Social Cooperative. Since the social group is essentially a cooperative, it relies upon cooperation to function. If the members wish to disrupt it, one thing they can do is stop cooperating!

In his book, Gene Sharp thoughtfully discusses and weighs various strategies and tactics a democratic movement can use to terminate social cooperation with authoritarian management and achieve full democracy. I think one important point was to de-legitimize the regime, by identifying and attacking its “Achille’s Heel.” I would ask, “What do they say is their reason for leading?” They are probably failing at whatever they claim is the basis for their legitimacy. Point that out to everyone, all the time, by all the means available to you. For example, is the Chinese Communist Party truly protecting China’s working class, given its lax pollution and manufacturing standards? Are the ayatollahs in Iran truly upholding Islamic ideals, or just their personal power? What good are the generals of Myanmar?

Of course, members of the national military establishment play perhaps the most decisive role. I would think that members of that establishment would have to be at least sympathetic to the democratic movement for the democratic movement to succeed.

But I will give the final word to Lech Walesa, leader of the successful Solidarity movement of Poland:
"Lead your struggle in a wise way but do not hit your heads against the wall...If not this time, you will win next time."