The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Photo of Isabel Bramsen.

Isabel Bramsen

Associate Professor | Director Peace and Conflict Studies

Photo of Isabel Bramsen.

How Civil Resistance Succeeds (or Not): Micro-dynamics of Unity, Timing, and Escalatory Actions

Author

  • Isabel Bramsen

Summary, in English

The article analyzes the micro‐sociological dynamics of civil resistance in the uprisings in Bahrain and Tunisia (2010‐11). It argues that the Tunisian uprising succeeded because regime repression generated solidarity and unity among diverse groups in society, while the regime increasingly suffered from miscommunication, mistrust, and increasing disobedience. In Bahrain, the movement initially enjoyed a high degree of unity and solidarity mobilizing against regime atrocities, but as the regime allowed protesters to demonstrate with little interference for a month, internal divisions emerged. Whereas Tunisian protesters launched a united escalation at a time of opponent weakness, factions of Bahraini activists escalated at a time of increasing division in the movement and society as a whole which both provoked and enabled a crackdown by the regime. Conclusively, success or failure of an uprising depends on a movement and a regime's ability to maintain unity respectively, as well as the timing of escalatory actions.

Publishing year

2018-01-01

Language

English

Pages

61-89

Publication/Series

Peace and Change: Journal of Peace Research

Volume

43

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Political Science

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1468-0130