The Umbrella Movement and Hong Kong's Protracted Democratization Process

Author(s): Stephan Ortmann

In: Asian Affairs, Vol 46, No 1, 2015, pp. 32-50

Ortmann explains the movement in the context of the slow process of institutional democratization and the dashing of early hopes. He notes the obstacles to progress through the democratic political parties created by the Hong Kong authorities. He also points to the role of the business elite, afraid that fully democratic politics would lead to radical economic and social policies, and the constraints imposed by Beijing. As a result the democracy movement has become divided, and students have come to the fore in promoting protest.

Available online as PDF at:

https://www.cityu.edu.hk/ais/doc/20150219_SO_UmbrellaMovement.pdf

Addressing violence against women through legislative reform in States transitioning from the Arab Spring

Author(s): Stephanie Chaban

In: Lahai, John and Khanyisela Moyo (eds.) Gender in Human Rights and Transitional Justice

The authors examine legal reforms relating to gender and violence against women in states emerging from the Arab Spring, such as Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen. They argue that, while legal reform has been uneven, women’s organizations and movements (particularly those that are feminist or feminist-oriented) are key, though not sufficient, to ensure positive legal reforms.

The New Politics of Climate Change: Why We are Failing and How We Will Succeed

Author(s): Stephen Hale

In: Environmental Politics, Vol 19, No 2, 2019, pp. 255-275

Argues that governments, businesses and individuals acting alone cannot secure effective policies on curbing climate change, what is needed is mobilization by the 'third sector'. Hale suggests success depends on 'national leadership by a diverse coalition of groups; action at community level; a mass movement 'living differently and demanding more, and mobilization across borders'.

The Rose Revolution: A Revolution without Revolutionaries?

Author(s): Stephen Jones

In: Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Vol 9, No 1, 2006, pp. 33-48

Argues that the role of civil society bodies was important, but not vital. He suggests that key factors were popular attitudes to the ideal of Europe, the impact of the global economy, the appeal of western models and the implications of the soviet legacy. See also Stephen Jones, Georgia’s ‘Rose Revolution’ of 2003: Enforcing Peaceful Change, In Timothy Garton Ash, Adam Roberts, Civil Resistance and Power Politics: The Experience of Non-violent Action from Gandhi to the Present (A. 1.b. Strategic Theory, Dynamics, Methods and Movements) New York, Oxford University Press, 2009 , pp. 317-334 .

Women and Social Movements in Latin America: Power from Below

Author(s): Stephen Lynn

University of Texas Press, Austin TX, 1997, pp. 352

Covers six cases of grassroots activism in Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil and Chile, which use interviews with activists and provide histories of organizations and movements involved. The activists are concerned with economic and health issues, but also stress problems relating to contraception and abortion, rape and domestic violence.

Revolt in Syria: Eyewitness to the Uprising

Author(s): Stephen Starr

Hurst, London , 2015, pp. 178 pb

In this book, which was well reviewed, Starr - an Irish journalist - provides a detailed account of the complex nature of Syrian society with its many minorities and why some supported Assad. He had worked in Syria since 2007 and was able to send reports from inside the country to a range of respected US and UK newspapers during the nonviolent uprising and the subsequent civil war. His account is based partly on interviews with a wide range of people with diverse allegiances and viewpoints.

Social Movements and Activism in the USA

Author(s): Stephen Valocchi

Routledge, New York and London, 2009, pp. 200

Examines what can be learned from social movement activists, focusing on community, labour, feminist, gay and lesbian, peace and anti-racist groups in Hartford Connecticut.

Civil Resistance against Coups: A Comparative and Historical Perspective

ICNC Monograph Series

Author(s): Stephen Zunes

ICNC, Washington D.C., 2017, pp. 104 pb

Zunes provides detailed case studies of civil resistance to military coups in recent decades.  His aim is to advance an analysis of the role of civil society and nonviolent movements in resisting such takeovers, and the role of international pressure and solidarity by both governments and activists. Eight coup attempts defeated by popular resistance are analyzed, including Bolivia, 1978, the USSR 1991, Thailand 1992 and Burkina Faso 2015, as well as four in which resistance did not succeed. Available in PDF at: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ICNC-Mono...

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See also Vol.1. E.II.1.c. Burma: Resisting the 2021 Coup, which covers the mass popular mobilization against the February 2021 coup by the Burmese military junta.

Sudan's 2019 Revolution: The Power of Civil Resistance

Author(s): Stephen Zunes

International Center on Nonviolent Conflict , Washington D.C., 2021, pp. 44

Zunes, a well known theorist of civil resistance and Middle East expert, interviewed activists and civil society groups involved in the movement to overthrow Omar as-Bashir to produce this study. He also interviewed journalists and academics who covered the movement.

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