Legalistic and Utopian

Author(s): Sebastian Veg

In: New Left Review, No 92 (March to April), 2015

The author notes frequent comparisons between the Umbrella Movement and the Chinese student occupation of Tienanmen Square in Beijing in 1989, but argues that the Hong Kong protesters’ demands were more limited and precise and that they operated in a much more favourable political environment. Veg also comments on comparisons with Occupy Wall Street in 2011 (he points out the focus of protest was different) and the Taiwan Sunflower Movement of 2014, which he sees as a more precise comparison in terms of the context of the protests and the specific nature of their demands. He then examines the background to and evolution of the Umbrella Movement.

Available online at:

https://newleftreview.org/issues/II92/articles/sebastian-veg-legalistic-and-utopian

The Gezi Park protests and youth in Turkey: Perception of Hürriyet Columnists

Author(s): Şebnem Cansun

In: International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies, Vol 6, No 1, 2014, pp. 92-105

Article discusses why, despite major role of young people using social media in the first three weeks of protests, columnists in the major Turkish daily Hurriyet (Liberty) often failed to mention, or underplayed, the significance of the young demonstrators.

Available online at:

https://www.academia.edu/6925094/Cansun_%C5%9Eebnem._The_Gezi_Park_protests_and_youth_in_Turkey_Perception_of_H%C3%BCrriyet_Columnists_International_Journal_of_Social_Sciences_and_Humanity_Studies_2014_6_1_p._92-105

Doomed to Fail? Why Success was almost not an Option in the 2020 Protests in Belarus

Author(s): sergei Mudrov

In: Journal of Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe, 2021

Mudrov, an academic working inside Belarus, argues that despite the initial impetus of the movement against Lukashenko from August 2020, there were four main reasons why it failed. The degree of support for Lukashenko was underestimated, some social classes such as industrial and agricultural workers were not well represented in the protests, government institutions consolidated behind the government and the police and military stayed loyal to the regime. Other factors were that protest symbols alienated many people, and many were deterred by the harshness of the repression. Mudrov also argues that the protests exacerbated divisions in Belarusian society, and increased hatred and distrust.  But he concludes that there is also, especially amongst the young, increasing desire for change.

Tunisia: An Arab Anomaly

Author(s): Sfawan Masri

Colombia University Press, New York, 2019, pp. 416 pb

The author traces the history of Tunisia's politics back to the 19th century and early reforms relating to religion, education and women's rights, to explain the relatively liberal context in the 21st century.  Masri therefore argues that Tunisia is not a model for other Arab states, but an exception, given the general role of Islam in shaping education and social and political agendas. The book draws on interviews as well as historical analysis and personal knowledge.

#MeToo makes its way to China, but will the government censor it?

Author(s): Shannon Liao

In: The Verge, 2018

Gives background to one of the catalysts for the development of #MeToo in China - translated as “我也是” or #WoYeShi -, namely a social media post by academic Luo Xixi in December 2017, in which she accused her former doctoral professor Chen Xiaowu of unwanted sexual advances.

See also https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/chinas-me-too-moment

Available online at:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/11/16873934/metoo-weinstein-china-women-feminism-censorship-2018

China’s feminist movement braves a government crackdown on #MeToo

Author(s): Shannon Liao

In: The Verge, 2018

Provides insights on aspects of Chinese culture that remain deeply patriarchal in a way that mixes Communist, capitalist, and Confucian values. It also provides links to organised feminist initiatives in China; reports on sexual harassment and gender discrimination; and sheds light on positive initiatives by the government to protect women alongside grave episodes of censorship on the occasion of worldwide #MeToo mobilisation and other forms of feminist street protests and art performances.

Available online at:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/9/16897048/metoo-china-feminism-activism

Religion and War Resistance in the Plowshares Movement

Author(s): Sharon Erickson Nepstad

Cambridge University Press, New York, 2008, pp. 204

This book examines the development and evolution of the Plowshares movement from a social science perspective, looking at issues such as ‘tactical legitimation’ and sustainability in relation to the US movement, and also analyzing ‘intermittent resistance’ in the German, Dutch and Australian movements, and ‘internal implosion’ in the Swedish movement.  It also  assesses the UK movement.

Nonviolent Revolutions: Civil Resistance in the Late Twentieth Century

Author(s): Sharon Erickson Nepstad

Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York, 2011, pp. 178

Compares ‘unsuccessful’ and ‘successful’ movements against Socialist regimes (Tiananmen and East Germany 1989), against military regimes (Panama and Chile in the 1980s) and against personal dictators (Kenyan opposition to Moi and the Philippines struggle against Marcos). Draws some fairly brief general conclusions.

Nonviolent Struggle: Theories, Strategies, and Dynamics

Author(s): Sharon Erickson Nepstad

Oxford University Press, New York, 2015, pp. 264

Designed as a textbook, it covers history, theoretical developments and debates about the results of nonviolent movements. It categorizes nine types of nonviolent action, which are illustrated by case studies.  A separate chapter explores key issues of why and when sections of the armed services defect from a regime challenged by a nonviolent movement. 

Favourable conditions and electoral revolutions

Author(s): Valerie J. Bunce, and Sharon L. Wolchik

In: Journal of Democracy, Vol 17, No 4 (October), 2006, pp. 5-18

Analysis of ‘second wave of democratization’ in post-Communist states and why conditions in these states favourable to success, compared for example with failure of protests over fraudulent elections in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Cote d’Ivoire. See also by Valerie J. Bunce, Sharon L. Wolchik, International diffusion and postcommunist electoral revolutions, 2006 , pp. 283-302 , discussing five factors in the diffusion of electoral revolutions, including the development of civil society and networks between ‘international democracy promoters’.

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