Multiple channels of resistance
A book worth having a flip through is Kurt Schock’s Unarmed Insurrections: people power movements in nondemocracies. In a section on multiple channels of resistance, he has this to say . . .
Participation in a nondemocratic regime’s channels of political participation is not likely to succeed unless combined with noninstitutional pressure. In the Philippines, segments of the oppostion participated in Marcos’s institutionalised channels, yet they continued to exert noninstitutional pressure as well. In Burma, by contrast, after the military crackdown the opposition focused on the regime-controlled election campaigning leading up to the May 1990 elections without maintaining sufficient noninstitutional pressure against the regime. The opposition won the elections, but was demobilised and unable to force the government to step down as in the Philippines, where campaigns of nonviolent action were implemented concomitantly with participation in elections, and civil disobedience was implemented when Marcos refused to step aside.
The power to disrupt is vital to a challenge, and it should not be given up in exchange for participation in channels controlled by the state.
Words of advice for the pro-democracy movement in Zimbabwe?
Monday, April 14th 2008 at 2:27 am
Shock answers the conundrum facing many groups about remaining non-partisan in a difficult environment. Some wait for the political lead, some ignore it, some cow tow to it, some hope for more coordination, respect as equals, or position in a coalition. What Shock is hinting at is asserting legitimate self-interest of different sectors and groups. If all come at the isue from their point of view, it becomes a kind of de facto coordination that builds in rough bubbling parallel.
Example, a group may not wish to side with the MDC court application, but sympathizes with respecting rule of law. While all security attention is focused on blocking citizens from accessing the court where their case is heard, for example, is an opportunity to get out a message about respecting rule of law in multiple locations. Multiple channels of resistance at work.