Non-Violence? Political Protest Strategies and Political Outcomes, 2012

This project examines the conditions that foster the use of non-violent as opposed to violent tactics, focusing on the interaction between specific characteristics of different organizations, their constituencies, the state, and external actors. It examines why organizations seeking political change choose specific tactics; when non-violent actors can be an effective force for political dissent; how decisions to use violence or non-violent means affect the strategic interaction between the state and opposition groups; whether non-violent movements tend to involve specific types of actors and interests compared to violent organizations, as well as how states and international actors can prevent conflicts from escalating to violence.