Strategic Dynamics of Civil Resistance

This graduate-level sequence examines the strategic underpinnings of civil resistance, focusing on the quantitative evidence for nonviolent efficacy, the dynamics of repression and backfire, the complexities of intersectional coalition-building, and the institutional mechanisms of policy reform. Students engage in strategic simulations and case study analysis to understand how movements achieve durable political and social change.

Strategic Logic of Nonviolence

Evaluates the empirical evidence for nonviolent resistance efficacy using the Chenoweth and Stephan dataset and explores the mechanics of elite defection through a game-theory simulation.

Repression and Backfire

Examines the 'backfire' mechanism of state repression and the strategic implications of 'radical flanks' on movement legitimacy and bargaining power.

Coalition Building Strategy

Focuses on the internal dynamics of building broad-based, intersectional coalitions and the negotiation required to maintain unity across diverse ideological groups.

Protest to Policy Interface

Traces the path from street-level demands to formal legislative language, analyzing the institutional interfaces and compromises required for policy reform.

Evaluating Movement Legacy

Develops a multidimensional framework for evaluating movement success beyond binary outcomes, culminating in the presentation of strategic policy assessments.