Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Not since Machiavelli has a book had such impact in shifting the balance of power”
―The The Times of London
“Few Americans have heard of Dr. Sharp. But for decades, his practical writings on nonviolent revolution―most notably [his] guide to toppling autocrats―have inspired dissidents around the world, including Burma, Bosnia, Estonia and Zimbabwe, and now Tunisia and Egypt.”
―The New York Times
“In June 2007, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez publicly accused Mr. Sharp of stirring unrest in Venezuela. . . . The target of all this intrigue and animosity is eighty years old and slightly stooped. He walks with a cane.”
―The Wall Street Journal
“The man who changed the world.”
―The Boston Globe
“Hailed as the manual by those who conducted people-power coups in Eastern Europe, its contents were no secret in Iran. . . . Officials saw this summer’s unrest as the fruit of his strategies.”
―The Christian Science Monitor
About the Author
Gene Sharp advised governments and resistance movements around the world and was considered the most influential living promoter of nonviolent resistance to autocratic governments. He was a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and the founder of the Albert Einstein Institution, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the study of nonviolent action. Sharp was the author of From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation (The New Press).
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Reassuring
I read this book in a couple hours. It's short, but powerful. It's a practical guide on how to use nonviolent resistance in a dictatorship. I found it reassuring. It gave me hope.Karen Molenaar Terrell, author of *Scrapbook of a Year and a Day*
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book on nonviolent regime-change
The book focuses on use of non-violent resistance to reform repressive regimes into democratic governments. I found it interesting that the book is a darling of Leftist and progressive thinkers -- I guess because of its emphasis on techniques of bringing about revolution -- but the content is decidedly favorable to individual freedom and American traditions of representative government. Put another way, American "conservatives" (who are, for the most part, actually classical liberals) can learn a lot from this book. The author's comment that the instruments of freedom are private associations, beginning with the family and including everything from churches to garden clubs to literary societies, was -- by American standards -- distinctly conservative. American constitutional traditions derived directly from the experience of repression and were designed to prevent it, so it's no surprise that a key element of such prevention (or reformation, in the case of resistance to repression) is the private association of citizens, organizing and speaking freely.The author also wisely observes that violence tends to beget violence, and repressive governments yearn for any justification to unleash the full brutality of their police and military forces upon dissenters. Mass arrests and killings of "violent revolutionaries" are easy to justify -- of peaceful protestors, not so much. Also, violent revolutions tend to train citizens in continuing the deadly cycle of more of the same.If the book fails at any point, it is on the question of how to build an enduring free and representative government after the revolution. The author does address this, but very lightly. (For example, if any one factor has proved pivotal in revolutionary cycles throughout human history, it is the military. The authors of the American Constitution dealt with this issue by initially avoiding a standing army and making the military consist of individual state militias, populated by private, and privately armed, citizens. The theory was that the military won't become a tool of ambitious politicians to overthrow representative government, if the people themselves ARE the military. This has obviously changed a bit over the years -- we now have not only state militias and National Guard, but also a large standing military, while still retaining an armed-to-the-teeth public.) This, however, was never the author's goal in writing this particular book, which is a handbook on peaceful regime change toward democracy, not a treatise on stable and lasting democratic government.Well worth the read.
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book!
It will tell you how to protest peacefully.
4.0 out of 5 stars A short guide on how to change from autocracy to democracy
Nothing in life can be done without planning, reviewing alternatives, laying down a strategy and evaluating tactics that can be used. In this case, all of these measures carry their share of risks, these have also to be evaluated.Relative secrecy is of importance. For any people to engange in changing their dictatorship this is a starter that must be read. It also makes it plain that there exist organizations worldwide with ample experience that can help in giving actual courses and clarifying and adapting methods to special situations encountered in different countries. It is a primer both for the activist and the politician who wants to make sure that any action has a relative possibility of success. I rate it only with four stars because additional teaching by experts is required.
5.0 out of 5 stars Important specifics on living with self-respect when an authoritarian takes power.
This celebrated, and respected Pulitzer writer and social commentator wrote a clear map on how to support yourself and your community when a dictator pushes for power.
5.0 out of 5 stars A really elegant read
Having entered the field in the 1960s reading insurgency and counter-insurgency, with "The Age of Martin Luther King" in a separate pigeon hole, reading this book was seeing many things I though I knew - for the first time.It is not just nuts and bolts, though those are neat - this is a thoughtful, real world but also idealistic discussion of values, philosophy and politics. Perhaps less openly spiritual or theological language than Gandhi, King or The Fellowship of Reconciliation, but not hostile to those perspectives.I am looking at the author's other books, as this book shouts that its author is well worth reading in full.
5.0 out of 5 stars My third favorite book
If I had to reduce my library down to only two or three books, I would take “Dracula” and “Phantom of the Opera” with me. I would now include “From Dictatorship to Democracy” in that small library.For anyone interested in negotiations, conflict mediation, power dynamics, peaceful resistance, or anything else along those lines, this book is very much a must-have. It reads well, it is concise, and Gene Sharp is arguably the foremost scholar with regards to nonviolent resistance and struggle. I have one other book of his, “Waging Nonviolent Resistance,” and I have always had a hard time getting through that book on a whole. If you read this book before reading waging nonviolence struggle, it’s much easier to grasp the importance of each of the individual chapters and stories that is related.For anyone who wants to be prepared for Tierney and dictatorship, and who counts themselves as an activist or at least a committed pacifist (like myself), “ from dictatorships democracy“ is essential for your library.
3.0 out of 5 stars the book could have been better written. It is missing examples and better explanations ...
The topic is very interesting, and Gene Sharp is the Authority when it comes to the study of non-violent resistance. However, the book could have been better written. It is missing examples and better explanations of how and why some techniques work under certain circumstances.
Five Stars
Great read
Sollte in keiner Bibliothek fehlen...
...auch wenn nicht gerade umfangreich und vor originellen Ideen sprühend.Trotzdem. Kaufen.
All good, would us seller again.
Good book.
Interessante
QUesto libro e' un specie di manuale su come liberarsi dalla dittatatuara nel proprio paese. Parte da esempi presi da rivoluzioni in vari paesi e consiglia su cosa fare e cosa non fare per arrivare a una transizione.
Nothing of value for 2022
Very little useful information. I was very unimpressed at the narrow view and impotent ideological drivel. On a global scale, without media representation and limited by censorship, nothing in this book is of any value. As an Indigenous Canadian, I’ve been on the front line of such peaceful protest and demonstrations…when the government’s enforcement agents arrive, and the media turns off the cameras, these fanciful tactics are both useless and dangerous. We aren’t in a lone dictatorship with half the globe sympathetic to the cause, we’re in a unified coup to overthrow democracy and human rights…and there’s nothing and nobody to press any freedom movement. If you’re looking for solutions to the way our inept and corrupt leaders are stomping our freedoms for their own profit and greater agenda, you’ll find far better ways than wasting your time reading this.
Visit the The New Press Store
From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation
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Visit the The New Press Store
From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation
AED6865
Quantity:
Order today to get by 7-14 business days
Delivery fee of AED 20. Free for orders above AED 200.
Imported From: United States
At BOLO, we work hard to ensure the products you receive are new, genuine, and sourced from reputable suppliers.
BOLO is not an authorized or official retailer for most brands, nor are we affiliated with manufacturers unless specifically stated on a product page. Instead, we source verified sellers, authorized distributors or directly from the manufacturer.
Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.
If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support. We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.
Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.
All product information, images, descriptions, and reviews originate from the manufacturer or from trusted sellers overseas. BOLO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an authorized retailer for most brands listed on our website unless stated otherwise.
While we strive to display accurate information, variations in packaging, labeling, instructions, or formulation may occasionally occur due to regional differences or supplier updates. For detailed or manufacturer-specific information, please contact the brand directly or reach out to BOLO Support for assistance.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.
BOLO operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.
All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.
All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.
Description:
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Not since Machiavelli has a book had such impact in shifting the balance of power”
―The The Times of London
“Few Americans have heard of Dr. Sharp. But for decades, his practical writings on nonviolent revolution―most notably [his] guide to toppling autocrats―have inspired dissidents around the world, including Burma, Bosnia, Estonia and Zimbabwe, and now Tunisia and Egypt.”
―The New York Times
“In June 2007, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez publicly accused Mr. Sharp of stirring unrest in Venezuela. . . . The target of all this intrigue and animosity is eighty years old and slightly stooped. He walks with a cane.”
―The Wall Street Journal
“The man who changed the world.”
―The Boston Globe
“Hailed as the manual by those who conducted people-power coups in Eastern Europe, its contents were no secret in Iran. . . . Officials saw this summer’s unrest as the fruit of his strategies.”
―The Christian Science Monitor
About the Author
Gene Sharp advised governments and resistance movements around the world and was considered the most influential living promoter of nonviolent resistance to autocratic governments. He was a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and the founder of the Albert Einstein Institution, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the study of nonviolent action. Sharp was the author of From Dictatorship to Democracy: A Conceptual Framework for Liberation (The New Press).
Reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Reassuring
I read this book in a couple hours. It's short, but powerful. It's a practical guide on how to use nonviolent resistance in a dictatorship. I found it reassuring. It gave me hope.Karen Molenaar Terrell, author of *Scrapbook of a Year and a Day*
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book on nonviolent regime-change
The book focuses on use of non-violent resistance to reform repressive regimes into democratic governments. I found it interesting that the book is a darling of Leftist and progressive thinkers -- I guess because of its emphasis on techniques of bringing about revolution -- but the content is decidedly favorable to individual freedom and American traditions of representative government. Put another way, American "conservatives" (who are, for the most part, actually classical liberals) can learn a lot from this book. The author's comment that the instruments of freedom are private associations, beginning with the family and including everything from churches to garden clubs to literary societies, was -- by American standards -- distinctly conservative. American constitutional traditions derived directly from the experience of repression and were designed to prevent it, so it's no surprise that a key element of such prevention (or reformation, in the case of resistance to repression) is the private association of citizens, organizing and speaking freely.The author also wisely observes that violence tends to beget violence, and repressive governments yearn for any justification to unleash the full brutality of their police and military forces upon dissenters. Mass arrests and killings of "violent revolutionaries" are easy to justify -- of peaceful protestors, not so much. Also, violent revolutions tend to train citizens in continuing the deadly cycle of more of the same.If the book fails at any point, it is on the question of how to build an enduring free and representative government after the revolution. The author does address this, but very lightly. (For example, if any one factor has proved pivotal in revolutionary cycles throughout human history, it is the military. The authors of the American Constitution dealt with this issue by initially avoiding a standing army and making the military consist of individual state militias, populated by private, and privately armed, citizens. The theory was that the military won't become a tool of ambitious politicians to overthrow representative government, if the people themselves ARE the military. This has obviously changed a bit over the years -- we now have not only state militias and National Guard, but also a large standing military, while still retaining an armed-to-the-teeth public.) This, however, was never the author's goal in writing this particular book, which is a handbook on peaceful regime change toward democracy, not a treatise on stable and lasting democratic government.Well worth the read.
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book!
It will tell you how to protest peacefully.
4.0 out of 5 stars A short guide on how to change from autocracy to democracy
Nothing in life can be done without planning, reviewing alternatives, laying down a strategy and evaluating tactics that can be used. In this case, all of these measures carry their share of risks, these have also to be evaluated.Relative secrecy is of importance. For any people to engange in changing their dictatorship this is a starter that must be read. It also makes it plain that there exist organizations worldwide with ample experience that can help in giving actual courses and clarifying and adapting methods to special situations encountered in different countries. It is a primer both for the activist and the politician who wants to make sure that any action has a relative possibility of success. I rate it only with four stars because additional teaching by experts is required.
5.0 out of 5 stars Important specifics on living with self-respect when an authoritarian takes power.
This celebrated, and respected Pulitzer writer and social commentator wrote a clear map on how to support yourself and your community when a dictator pushes for power.
5.0 out of 5 stars A really elegant read
Having entered the field in the 1960s reading insurgency and counter-insurgency, with "The Age of Martin Luther King" in a separate pigeon hole, reading this book was seeing many things I though I knew - for the first time.It is not just nuts and bolts, though those are neat - this is a thoughtful, real world but also idealistic discussion of values, philosophy and politics. Perhaps less openly spiritual or theological language than Gandhi, King or The Fellowship of Reconciliation, but not hostile to those perspectives.I am looking at the author's other books, as this book shouts that its author is well worth reading in full.
5.0 out of 5 stars My third favorite book
If I had to reduce my library down to only two or three books, I would take “Dracula” and “Phantom of the Opera” with me. I would now include “From Dictatorship to Democracy” in that small library.For anyone interested in negotiations, conflict mediation, power dynamics, peaceful resistance, or anything else along those lines, this book is very much a must-have. It reads well, it is concise, and Gene Sharp is arguably the foremost scholar with regards to nonviolent resistance and struggle. I have one other book of his, “Waging Nonviolent Resistance,” and I have always had a hard time getting through that book on a whole. If you read this book before reading waging nonviolence struggle, it’s much easier to grasp the importance of each of the individual chapters and stories that is related.For anyone who wants to be prepared for Tierney and dictatorship, and who counts themselves as an activist or at least a committed pacifist (like myself), “ from dictatorships democracy“ is essential for your library.
3.0 out of 5 stars the book could have been better written. It is missing examples and better explanations ...
The topic is very interesting, and Gene Sharp is the Authority when it comes to the study of non-violent resistance. However, the book could have been better written. It is missing examples and better explanations of how and why some techniques work under certain circumstances.
Five Stars
Great read
Sollte in keiner Bibliothek fehlen...
...auch wenn nicht gerade umfangreich und vor originellen Ideen sprühend.Trotzdem. Kaufen.
All good, would us seller again.
Good book.
Interessante
QUesto libro e' un specie di manuale su come liberarsi dalla dittatatuara nel proprio paese. Parte da esempi presi da rivoluzioni in vari paesi e consiglia su cosa fare e cosa non fare per arrivare a una transizione.
Nothing of value for 2022
Very little useful information. I was very unimpressed at the narrow view and impotent ideological drivel. On a global scale, without media representation and limited by censorship, nothing in this book is of any value. As an Indigenous Canadian, I’ve been on the front line of such peaceful protest and demonstrations…when the government’s enforcement agents arrive, and the media turns off the cameras, these fanciful tactics are both useless and dangerous. We aren’t in a lone dictatorship with half the globe sympathetic to the cause, we’re in a unified coup to overthrow democracy and human rights…and there’s nothing and nobody to press any freedom movement. If you’re looking for solutions to the way our inept and corrupt leaders are stomping our freedoms for their own profit and greater agenda, you’ll find far better ways than wasting your time reading this.
Similar suggestions by Bolo
More from this brand
Similar items from “Democracy”
Share with
Or share with link
https://www.bolo.ae/products/U1595588507