Civil Action and the Dynamics of Violence

Edited by Deborah Avant, Marie Berry, Erica Chenoweth, Rachel Epstein, Cullen Hendrix, Oliver Kaplan, and Timothy Sisk

Introduces scholars and practitioners to the concept of civil action
Locates civil action within the wider spectrum of behavior in the midst of civil conflict and war
Showcases empirical findings about the effects of civil action in nine cases from around the world
Explains the ways in which non-violent actions during civil war affect the dynamics of violence

Civil Action and the Dynamics of Violence

Edited by Deborah Avant, Marie Berry, Erica Chenoweth, Rachel Epstein, Cullen Hendrix, Oliver Kaplan, and Timothy Sisk

Description

Many view civil wars as violent contests between armed combatants. But history shows that community groups, businesses, NGOs, local governments, and even armed groups can respond to war by engaging in civil action. Characterized by a reluctance to resort to violence and a willingness to show enough respect to engage with others, civil action can slow, delay, or prevent violent escalations. This volume explores how people in conflict environments engage in civil action, and the ways such action has affected violence dynamics in Syria, Peru, Kenya, Northern Ireland, Mexico, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Spain, and Colombia. These cases highlight the critical and often neglected role that civil action plays in conflicts around the world.

Civil Action and the Dynamics of Violence

Edited by Deborah Avant, Marie Berry, Erica Chenoweth, Rachel Epstein, Cullen Hendrix, Oliver Kaplan, and Timothy Sisk

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One: Civil Action and the Dynamics of Violence in Conflicts (Deborah Avant, Marie Berry, Erica Chenoweth, Rachel Epstein, Cullen Hendrix, Oliver Kaplan, and Timothy Sisk)

Part 1: Civil Action and Maintaining Relationships
Chapter Two: Civil Action in the Syrian Conflict (Wendy Pearlman)
Chapter Three: Staging Peace: Community Organizations, Theatrical Performance, and Violent Conflict in Peru (Steven T. Zech)
Chapter Four: Northern Kenya: Civil and Uncivil Action Under Conditions of State Fragility (Fletcher D. Cox)

Part 2: Civil Action and Levels of Local Violence
Chapter Five: The Impact of Civil Action on Levels of Violence: Comparing Two Communities during Northern Ireland's Troubles (Amy Grubb)
Chapter Six: Doing Business amid Criminal Violence: Companies and Civil Action in Mexico (Sandra Ley and Magdalena Guzmán)
Chapter Seven: Civil Action and the Micro-Dynamics of Violence during the Bosnian War (Marie E. Berry)
Chapter Eight: Non-violent Communal Strategies in Insurgencies Case Study on Afghanistan (Christoph Zürcher)

Part 3: Civil Action and the Resolution of Violent Conflict
Chapter Nine: Civil Action Against ETA Terrorism in Basque Country (Javier Argomaniz)
Chapter Ten: The Colombian Private Sector in Colombia's Transition to Peace (Angelika Rettberg)
Chapter 11: Conclusion

Civil Action and the Dynamics of Violence

Edited by Deborah Avant, Marie Berry, Erica Chenoweth, Rachel Epstein, Cullen Hendrix, Oliver Kaplan, and Timothy Sisk

Author Information

Deborah Avant is the Sié Chéou-Kang Chair for International Security and Diplomacy. Professor Avant regularly advises governments, companies, NGOs, and others on the roles that many play in contemporary global governance and serves on numerous governing and editorial boards.

Marie Berry is an Assistant Professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, and the author of War, Women, and Power: From Violence to Mobilization in Rwanda and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Erica Chenoweth is Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and a Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University. Her books include Civil Resistance: What everyone Needs to Know (forthcoming from Oxford University Press) and Why Civil Resistance Works (with Maria J. Stephan).

Rachel A. Epstein is Professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs. Her latest book is Banking on Markets: The Transformation of Bank-State Ties in Europe and Beyond (Oxford University Press).

Cullen Hendrix is Director of the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security and Diplomacy and Associate Professor at the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. He is the co-author with Marcus Noland of Confronting the Curse: The Economics and Geopolitics of Natural Resource Governance.

Oliver Kaplan is an Associate Professor in International Relations and Human Rights at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. He is the author of Resisting War: How Communities Protect Themselves.

Timothy Sisk is Professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies. Prior to joining the University of Denver in 1998, Dr. Sisk was a Program Officer and Research Scholar in the Grant Program of the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.

Civil Action and the Dynamics of Violence

Edited by Deborah Avant, Marie Berry, Erica Chenoweth, Rachel Epstein, Cullen Hendrix, Oliver Kaplan, and Timothy Sisk

Reviews and Awards

"One of the most important recent findings is that civil action can be a surprisingly effective way for citizens to keep their governments in line while avoiding violence. If you want to know how citizens can do this-even in an era of democratic decline-read this book. It couldn't come at a better time."--Barbara F. Walter, Professor of Political Science, University of California, San Diego

"Studies of conflict focus primarily on violence and generally see civilians as victims of this violence. This excellent book shows how nonviolent activities by non-state actors can build and maintain relationships in the middle of fighting, lead to lower levels of violence, and contribute to the resolution of civil wars. A series of impressive case studies of conflicts from Syria to Northern Ireland and Bosnia to Afghanistan show the many and important ways that civil action can shape the dynamics of civil wars."-David E. Cunningham, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland