Riots as Civil Resistance Rethinking the Dynamics of ‘Nonviolent’ Struggle

This paper challenges the conventional dichotomy between violence and nonviolence in civil resistance studies, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of violent actions within social movements. While civil resistance research has emphasized the strategic effectiveness of nonviolent campaigns, this analysis points out that the distinction between violent and nonviolent tactics is often oversimplified, failing to capture the full range of actions used by movements.

The paper suggests that unarmed collective violence, such as riots, frequently coexists with nonviolent actions in civilian-led movements. These forms of violence can be examined using similar frameworks to those applied to nonviolent resistance. By utilizing data on contentious political actions, the paper shows that riots and other forms of collective violence often occur alongside nonviolent civil resistance, as exemplified by the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.

Ultimately, the paper argues for expanding the scope of civil resistance studies to include a broader repertoire of tactics, moving beyond the strict violence/nonviolence binary. This approach would allow for a more accurate analysis of social movements, recognizing that diverse and interwoven tactics are often employed in pursuit of political goals.