The Politics of Nonviolent Action is a major exploration of the nature of nonviolent struggle. This unabridged edition is in three volumes: Power and Struggle, The Methods of Nonviolent Action, and The Dynamics of Nonviolent Action.
Power and Struggle begins with an examination of political power. It is often assumed that power derives from violence and can be controlled only by greater violence. Actually, power derives from sources in the society which may be restricted or severed by withdrawal of cooperation by the populace.
The Methods of Nonviolent Action gives a detailed examination of 198 specific methods of the technique — illustrated with actual cases — within the broad classes of nonviolent protest and persuasion, non-cooperation (social, economic and political) and nonviolent intervention. This book examines revolutionary events including the American Revolution, through common sense and analysis.
The Dynamics of Nonviolent Action is an illustrated analysis of how the technique “works” against a violent, repressive opponent. Includes discussion of the groundwork for such struggle, as well as requirements for effectiveness and reactions to repression.
--Taken from the publisher
REVIEWS:
"Those Americans who believe that violence is an obsolete method of settling disputes between civilized peoples will want to read The Politics of Nonviolent Action."
--Former Senator Joseph S. Clark
"...it should be required reading at the U.S. Naval Academy."
--Captain George Walker, U.S.N.
"...an extraordinary reference work for people who want to know how to resist the inhumanity of this society..."
--Elizabeth McAlister, The New Republic
"Sharp is the Machiavelli of nonviolence."
--William B. Watson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"...provides a new and vastly improved context for the ethical debate about strategies...And thank God that at least one sociologist can write intelligible English!"
--David Gill, Church and Society, World Council of Churches
"The book offers an astonishing amount of information, and it is both cogent and accessible...Gene Sharp has provided us all with an example of courageous alternative thinking...We need such a kiss of life."
--Donald Foran, America
"This significant book is a valuable storehouse of relevant information."
--The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Atlanta
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Preface
Introduction by Professor Thomas Schelling
PART ONE: POWER AND STRUGGLE
Introduction
1. The Nature and Control of Political Power
2. Nonviolent Action: An Active Technique of Struggle
PART TWO: THE METHODS OF NONVIOLENT ACTION
Introduction
3. The Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion
4. The Methods of Social Noncooperation
5. The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: Boycotts
6. The Methods of Economic Noncooperation: Strikes
