
Nonviolence in Political Theory
Iain Atack(Author)
Edinburgh University Press
Published on 23. July 2012
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-0-7486-3871-0 (ISBN)
Description
Develops a coherent theory of nonviolent political action in the context of Western political theory.
From Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King to toppled communist regimes in Eastern Europe and pro-democracy movements in Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine, nonviolent action has played a significant role in achieving social and political change in the last century. The Arab Spring revolutions, particularly those in Tunisia and Egypt, and the Occupy movement in the US and UK demonstrate that nonviolence continues to be a vital feature of many campaigns for democracy, human rights and social justice.
Ian Atack identifies the contribution of nonviolence to political theory through connecting central characteristics of nonviolent action to fundamental debates about the role of power and violence in politics. This in turn provides a platform for going beyond historical and strategic accounts of nonviolence to a deeper understanding of its transformative potential.
Key Features:
Explores the philosophical presuppositions behind nonviolent political actionExamines the tensions between nonviolence and pacifism in international politicsUses Gramsci and Foucault to critically analyse consent as the basis of political powerDistinguishes between civil resistance and transformative nonviolence
From Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King to toppled communist regimes in Eastern Europe and pro-democracy movements in Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine, nonviolent action has played a significant role in achieving social and political change in the last century. The Arab Spring revolutions, particularly those in Tunisia and Egypt, and the Occupy movement in the US and UK demonstrate that nonviolence continues to be a vital feature of many campaigns for democracy, human rights and social justice.
Ian Atack identifies the contribution of nonviolence to political theory through connecting central characteristics of nonviolent action to fundamental debates about the role of power and violence in politics. This in turn provides a platform for going beyond historical and strategic accounts of nonviolence to a deeper understanding of its transformative potential.
Key Features:
Explores the philosophical presuppositions behind nonviolent political actionExamines the tensions between nonviolence and pacifism in international politicsUses Gramsci and Foucault to critically analyse consent as the basis of political powerDistinguishes between civil resistance and transformative nonviolence
Reviews / Votes
This timely and lucid analysis of the significance of nonviolence is innovative in what it adds to political theory. It is also significant for what it adds to understanding the power of nonviolence to direct the processes of social and political change currently sweeping the globe. -- Professor Tom Woodhouse, Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UKMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 160 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
522 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7486-3871-0 (9780748638710)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Iain Atack
Nonviolence in Political Theory
E-Book
07/2012
Edinburgh University Press
€25.49
Available for download

Iain Atack
Nonviolence in Political Theory
E-Book
07/2012
Edinburgh University Press
€0.00
Available for download
Person
Iain Atack is Assistant Professor of International Peace Studies at the Irish School of Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin and editor of The Ethics of Debt 'Forgiveness': Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on the Third World Debt Crisis.
Content
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Theory and Practice of Nonviolent Political Action
Chapter 2: Political Theory, Violence and the State
Chapter 3: Nonviolence, the State and Civil Resistance
Chapter 4: Nonviolence and Political Power
Chapter 5: Structure, Agency and Nonviolent Political Action
Chapter 6: Pacifism and Nonviolence
Conclusion
Bibiliography
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Theory and Practice of Nonviolent Political Action
Chapter 2: Political Theory, Violence and the State
Chapter 3: Nonviolence, the State and Civil Resistance
Chapter 4: Nonviolence and Political Power
Chapter 5: Structure, Agency and Nonviolent Political Action
Chapter 6: Pacifism and Nonviolence
Conclusion
Bibiliography