The project seeks to understand 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 will examine
- 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
- how states and international actors can prevent conflicts from escalating to violence
