Unconventional and Highly Conflictive Politics (PDF)

UNCONVENTIONAL & HIGHLY CONFLICTIVE POLITICS – FROM PROTEST TO REVOLUTION  UNCONVENTIONAL & HIGHLY CONFLICTIVE POLITICS: 1. PROTESTS PROTESTS…REVOLUTION 2. VIOLENCE GUERRILLA WARFARE/INSURGENCY TERRORISM REVOLUTION  UNCON...

UNCONVENTIONAL & HIGHLY CONFLICTIVE POLITICS – FROM PROTEST TO REVOLUTION  UNCONVENTIONAL & HIGHLY CONFLICTIVE POLITICS: 1. PROTESTS PROTESTS…REVOLUTION 2. VIOLENCE GUERRILLA WARFARE/INSURGENCY TERRORISM REVOLUTION  UNCONVENTIONAL & HIGHLY CONFLICTIVE POLITICS: PROTESTS…REVOLUTION alt-right – US racist/white nationalist & anti-democratic group ‘that embraces violence and presents itself as the alternative to democratic conservatism’ = radical right wing populists Antifa – ‘Anti-Fascists’ - extreme left wing & anti-democratic group ‘that embraces violence and opposes the radical right Both are collections of like-minded, smaller groups Connect online to promote ideas, activities Political conflict – opposition usually between ‘groups and the state over something the government is doing or proposes to do’ (or is failing to do) Sometimes this spills out of institutional contexts  protests, insurgency, guerrilla war, terrorism, revolution  PROTESTS Civil rights Civil disobedience Black Lives Matter “Take a Knee”  PROTESTS Petitions Demonstrations Boycotts Civil disobedience Breaking a law while accepting punishment by state authorities Highlights specific injustices while submitting to law in general  PROTESTS Politics outside formal channels Outsiders/marginalized “unimportant” actors/issues Aiming for significant change Opportunity structures “the openings that political institutions and processes offer to or withhold from movements” e.g. allowing formation of parties or interest groups Transnational political protest e.g. women’s rights movement, anti-slavery, labour, anti-globalization, environmentalism  POLITICAL VIOLENCE Political violence – using physical force for ‘political objectives’ Regime/government violence Repress dissent/impose order Spontaneous violence – unplanned/undesired Guerrilla violence/ Guerrilla insurgency ‒ ‘mobile … hit & run tactics’ ‒ Smaller numbers and arms ‒ ‘operate in familiar, often difficult terrain’ ‒ ‘know their locale and often have local support’ ‒ Protracted  POLITICAL VIOLENCE Counter-insurgency Government blends ‘military and political action’ vs an insurgency Combines ‘repression and reform’ Control guerrillas + address supporters’ issues Challenging to target guerrillas without harming civilians Terrorism Suicide terrorism Lone wolf terrorism Adopts aims of a terrorist group without being formally connected to it  POLITICAL VIOLENCE Revolution 1776-1783 American Revolution 1789 French Revolution 1791-1804 Haitian Revolution 1910-20 Mexican revolution 1917 Russian/Bolshevik Revolution 1949 Chinese Revolution 1959 Cuban Revolution 1979 Iranian Revolution 1989 Eastern European Revolution