Political Science 663                                                                                                                R.A. Francisco

10:00 MWF                                                                                                                               Fall 2008, 109 Blake

Protest and Revolution

 

The course covers the interaction of political dissidents and the state. It focuses on the process and strategy of conflict between these two parties and among rebel groups. Major emphasis is on the collective action problem of mobilizing rebels; repression of rebels by the state and its effect on rebellion; changing tactics to elude harm; terrorism as adaptive protest; post-revolutionary regime transition and civil war. Along the way we will cover 13 examples of historical and modern rebellions and revolutions. We both draw insights from these examples as well as apply propositions to them to test their validity.

 

Office Hours

 

Conducted in 313 Blake on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 to 10:00 and Mondays from 1:00-3:00 as well as by appointment. For an appointment, see or call me (864-9023). You may reach me by e-mail at ronfran@ku.edu. This syllabus and a list of books for the research paper are also on my home page (http://web.ku.edu/ronfran/). Click on “protest bibliography”.

 

Text and Readings

 

James DeFronzo. Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements. Boulder: Westview, 2007.

 

Also purchase a packet of chapters from Jack A. Goldstone, Ted R. Gurr, and Farrokh Moshiri. Revolutions of the Late Twentieth Century. Boulder: Westview, 1991. The book is out of print, so the relevant chapters have been photocopied and are available in the Political Science office (504 Blake).

 

Recommended readings appear in italics. They are not required.

 

Note that the required readings are clustered principally about the real revolution and rebellion lectures. No text exists at this level that reflects the way that this course is taught. My method is based on recent research, too recent to bring its innovation into a textbook. Therefore class attendance is important.

 

Examinations and Grading

 

There will be three in-class examinations of the short essay/identification type. Two of these occur during the semester, with one in the final examination period. Anyone who cannot be there on 18 December for the third exam should drop the course. Each examination is worth 25 percent of the final grade. The research paper constitutes the final 25 percent. Graduate students in political science are exempted from the third examination. Research papers constitute 50 percent of graduate student grades. Any student with a disability that affects test writing and note taking should notify me for accommodation.

 

Research Assignment

 

Choose a real historical conflict and study it. Select one from the list I provide or convince me to let you pursue your favorite conflict. First write a narrative history, i.e., trace it over time. Note who fought whom, why they fought, how the rebels mobilized more people, what the state did in response, and how the conflict evolved and was resolved. Then develop a section to the paper analyzing the conflict, using the propositions you obtain from the course, e.g., what were the relative strategies of the rebel group and the state as the conflict evolved? Include a chronology and attempt to note 1) how many people were mobilized on each date of protest or interaction; 2) how many police, troops, or supporters the state mobilized against the protesters; 3) the casualties (including arrests and executions) suffered by each side; and 4) the outcome (what happened?). Do not use the discredited conjectures we present in this course, e.g., Gurr, Tilly and Skocpol. Due Wednesday, 10 December at 4:00 pm. Late papers lose one letter grade per day.

 

F 22 August Organizational Meeting

 

Introduction

 

M 25 August Traditional Study of Revolutions vs. Modern Analysis

                DeFronzo, Chapter 1

                Goldstone, pp. 4-20.

Related music: Indigo Girls, “Dear Mr. President”; Sheryl Crow, “Out of Our Heads”

 

W 27 August Jan Revolution 1: Russia, 1917

                DeFronzo, pp. 33-55.

 

Theories of Protest and Coercion

 

F 29 August The Relative Deprivation Explanation of Protest

                Goldstone, pp. 20-23.

                Ted Robert Gurr, Why Men Rebel, 1970

                James B. Rule, Theories of Civil Violence, 1988, Chapter 7

Related music: Los Lobos, “Will the World Survive”; Billy Joel, “Allentown”; Bruce Springsteen, “Born in the U.S.A.

 

M 1 September Labor Day: No class

 

W 3 September The Resource Mobilization Challenge

                Goldstone, pp. 23-26.

                Charles Tilly, From Mobilization to Revolution, 1978

                James B. Rule, Theories of Civil Violence, 1988, Chapter 6

 

F 5 September The Structural Theory of Revolution: Peasants Monitor Commodity Prices!

                Goldstone, pp. 26-36.

                Theda Skocpol, States and Social Revolutions, 1979

                Alexander J. Motyl, “Concepts and Skocpol: Ambiguity and Vagueness in the Study of                                                    Revolution.” Journal of Theoretical Politics 4:1 (January 1992): 93-112.

 

M 8 September Why Rebel? The Collective Action Problem

                Mark I. Lichbach, The Rebel’s Dilemma, 1995, Chapters 1 and 2.

Related music: Tracy Chapman, “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution”

 

W 10 September Solutions to the Rebel’s Dilemma

                Mark I. Lichbach, The Rebel’s Dilemma, 1995, Chapters 3-6.

 

Context and Protest

 

F 12 September Revolution 2: China, 1948

                DeFronzo, Chapter 3

 

M 15 September Autocracy vs. Democracy

                Barrington Moore, Jr., Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy, 1966

Related music: Elvis Costello, “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding?”; Bob Dylan, “Oxford Town”; Dion, “Abraham, Martin and John”

 

Repressing Dissent

 

W 17 September Revolution 3: Iran, 1979

                DeFronzo, Chapter 7.

 

F 19 September Threaten and Use Violence

Karen Rasler, “Concessions, Repression, and Political Protest in the Iranian Revolution.” American Sociological Review 61 (September 1996): 132-152.

Related music: Kim & Reggie Harris, “Those Three are on my Mind”; Arlo Guthrie, “1913 Massacre”

 

M 22 September Threaten and Use Economic and Psychological Repression

 

W 24 September Rebellion 1: Chiapas in Mexico, 1994-1995

 

F 26 September First Examination

 

Overcoming Repression

 

M 29 September Revolution 4: Eastern Europe, 1989

                DeFronzo, pp. 55-82.

Related music: Scorpions, “Winds of Change”

 

W 1 October Leadership

 

F 3 October Clandestine Mobilization and Power in Numbers

                James DeNardo, Power in Numbers. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1985

 

M 6 October. Patrons at Home and Abroad

 

W 8 October Revolution 5: Philippines, 1986

                Goldstone, Chapter 9.

 

F 10 October Adaptation and Coevolution

 

M 13 October Rebellion 2: Northern Ireland, 1968-2003

Related music: The Cranberries, “Zombie”; Bap Kennedy, “Shankhill to the Falls”; Judy Collins, “The Patriot Game”; The Dubliners, “A Nation Once Again; Wild Colonial Bhoys, “Fields of Athenry”; The Wolf Tones, “Follow Me Up to Carlow”; The Clancy Brothers, “Four Green Fields”

 

W 15 October Terror

                DeFronzo, Chapter 8

Related music: Bruce Springsteen, “The Rising”

 

F 17 October Fall Break: no class

 

M 20 October Rebellion 3: Palestinian Intifada I, 1987-1994

                Goldstone, Chapter 13.

 

W 22 October After the Massacre: Mobilization in the Wake of Harsh Repression

Related music: U2, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”; Dixie Chicks, “Not Ready to Make Nice”; Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, “Fireflies”

 

F 24 October Riots as Political Protest

Related music: Ice Cube, “Black Korea”; Gordon Lightfoot, “Black Day in July”

 

M 27 October Why are Revolutions “Stable”?

 

W 29 October Second Examination

 

F 31 October Revolution 6: Cuba, 1959

                DeFronzo, Chapter 5

Related music: Jon Secada, “I’m Free”; Don Henley, “All She Wants to Do is Dance”

 

Stalemate

 

M 3 November Revolution 7: Afghanistan, 1979-1996

                Goldstone, Chapter 8.

 

W 5 November Civil War

                Roy Licklider, “The Consequences of Negotiated Settlements in Civil Wars, 1945-1993.”                American Political Science Review 89:3 (September 1995): 681-690.

Related music: Peter, Paul and Mary, “El Salvador

 

F 7 November Partition/1968

 

M 10 November Rebellion 4: 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention (video)

Related music: Chicago Transit Authority (Chicago), “Someday (August 29, 1968)”

 

Revolution and Regime Transition

 

W 12 November Revolution 7: Vietnam, 1946-1975

                DeFronzo, Chapter 4.

Related music: CCR, “Who’ll Stop the Rain?”; Phil Ochs, “Draft Dodger Rag”; Joan Baez/Judy Collins, “Song for David”; Jimmy Cliff, “Vietnam

 

F 14 November Revolution 8: Nicaragua, 1979

                DeFronzo, Chapter 6.

Related music: U2, “Pride in the Name of Love”; Jackson Browne, “Life in the Balance”

 

M 17 November Institutional Design

 

W 19 November Revolution 9: South Africa, 1984-1994

                DeFronzo, Chapter 9

Related music: Tom Paxton, “The Death of Stephen Biko”; Paul Simon, “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”; Special AKA, “Free Nelson Mandela”; Johnny Clegg and Savuka, “One Man One Vote”

 

F 21 November Pacted Democratization

                Guiseppe DiPalma, To Craft Democracies: An Essay on Democratic Transitions, 1991.

 

M 24 November The Problem of the Military

Related music: Buffy St. Marie, “Universal Soldier”

 

W 26 November Thanksgiving: No class

 

F 28 November Thanksgiving: No class

 

M 1 December The Politics of Economic Restructuring

 

W 3 December Consolidation: Rebels become Regime

 

F 5   December Research and Writing Day: No Class

 

M 8 December Research and Writing Day: No Class

 

W 10 December Protests, Revolutions, and Outcomes: Toward an Integrated Theory

                DeFronzo, Chapter 10/ Research Papers due, 4:00 pm

 

R 18 December Third Examination, 8:30 am

 

Research Paper Topics

 

Revolutions


Afghanistan (1978-1989)

American (1776)

Austrian (1848)

Bolivian (1952)

Bulgarian (1989)

Costa Rica (1948)

Chinese (1911 or1948)

Cuban (1959)

Czechoslovakian (1989)

East German (1989)

English (1640)

Eritrean (1962-1993)

French (1789, 1830 or 1848)

German (1848)

Georgia (2003)

Greek (1821-1827)

Guatemalan (1954)

Hungarian (1848-1849)

Iranian (1906 or 1979)

Indian (1920s-1940s)

Italian (1848)

Italian fascist (1919-1925)

Kenyan (1950-1956)

Mexican (1910-1911)

Nicaraguan (1979)

Philippine (1986)

Romanian (1989)

Russian (1905 or 1917 [February or October] or 1992)

Spanish (1820)

Ukraine (2004)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Protest and Rebellion

 

Algerian war against the French (1954-1962)

Armristar (India) massacre (1919)

Austrian worker rising (1927 or 2/12/1934)

Bavarian November rebellion (1918-1919)

Belgian riots (1830)

Berlin Spartakus rebellion (1918-1919)

Biafran rebellion (Nigeria, 1967-1970)

Black Panther Party (1966-1974)

Boxer rebellion in China (1898-1900)

Centralia, Missouri confederate massacre (1864)

Chechan conflict in Russia

Chicago Democratic Convention (1968)

Chicago Haymarket Massacre (1886)

Chicago race riot (1919)

Chinese student rebellion (1989)

Colfax, La. massacre (8/13/1873)

Columbia University occupation (1968)

Czech Prague Spring rebellion (1968)

Czech Charter 77 movement (1977-1989)

Dutch rebellion against Napoleon (1811-1813)

East German uprising (1953)

Eldora dos Carajás, Pará, Brazil massacre (1996)

El Mozote massacre (12/11/1981)

El Salvador civil war (1975-1992)

El Salvador massacre (2/28/1977)

Elaine, Arkansas race riot (1919)

English rising (1381)

French May events (1968)

The Fronde (France, 1648-1653)

Gary, IN riot (7/25/1968)

German Liebknecht/Luxemburg rebellion (1919)

Glenville, OH riot (7/23-25/1968)

Gordon (UK anti-Catholic) riot (1780)

Guinea-Bissau guerrilla war against Portugal (1960s)

Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot (1605)

Haitian slave rebellion (1791)

Harvard University occupation (1969 & 2001)

Haymarket riot (Chicago, 1886)

Hungarian uprising (1956)

Huk, Philippines (1946-1948)

Irish rising (1798, 1867 or 1916)

Israeli army massacre in Dweima (10/28/1948)

Jack Cade’s rebellion (15th century, UK)

Jamaican freedmen rising (1865)

John Brown’s seizure of Harper’s Ferry (10/16/1859)

Kent State protest & killing (1970)

Kronstadt (USSR) sailor rising (2/28/1921)

Kwangju, S. Korea student massacre (1980)

Levellers (UK, 17th century)

Liberian civil war (1990-1993)

Liberty City, FL riot (8/8/1968)

Luddite riots, UK (1811-1816)

Managua, Nicaragua election massacre (1967)

Mexico City student massacre (1968)

Mexican (Chiapas) rebellion (1994-1996)

Molly Maguires (1877)

Munich Bierkeller Putsch (1923)

New York draft riots (1863)

Northern Ireland rebellion (1968-1996)

Orangeburg, SC massacre (1968)

Palestinian Intifada (1987-1994)

Palestinian Intifada II (2000-2001)

Paris commune (1871)

Philadelphia MOVE (1985)

Pilgrimage of Grace (Yorkshire, UK 1536)

Quantrill’s raid on Lawrence, KS (1863)

San Salvador cathedral massacre (1979)

Sandino insurrection in Nicaragua (1927-1933)

Satsuma samurai rising (1877)

Seattle WTO anti-globalization protest (2000)

Shay’s rebellion (1786-1787)

Slachtenek rebellion in South Africa (1815)

Solidarity (Poland) (1980-1981)

South African campaign (1950-1994)

Southern (US) rifle clubs (1870s)

Southhampton, VA (Nat Turner) slave rebellion (1831)

Soweto massacre (1976)

Spanish civil war (1931-1939)

Stonewall gay rising, NY (1969)

Taiping rebellion in China (1848-1865)

Tamil rebellion in Sri Lanka (1980s-present)

Tepehuan Revolt (Mexico, 1616-1620)

U.S. anti-Vietnam War campaign (1965-1974)

U.S. Civil Rights movement (1960s)

U.S. Militia movement (1990s)

U.S. Suffrage movement (1890s-1919)

USSR peasant Tambov rising (2/2/1921)

Vienna Black Friday (1927)

Wales rail strikes (1911)

Warsaw uprising (1943)

Warsaw rising (1944)

Whiskey rebellion (1794)

Zimbabwe campaign (1957-1980)


Terror

Action Directe in France

al-Qaeda (1990s-2007)

Chechen terror

Corsican Liberation Front

ETA (Basques)

HAMAS in Palestine

Ku Klux Klan (1920s-1960s)

Official Irish Republican Army

Islamic Front in Algeria/Egypt (1990s)

Israeli terror in 1940s & 1950s

Lord’s Liberation Army (Uganda)

LTTE campaign in Sri Lanka

Madrid train bombing (2004)

Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952-1956)

Palestine Liberation Organization (1960s-1970s)

Protestant Loyalists (UFF & UVF) in Northern Ireland (1980s-1990s)

Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA, 1968-2005)

Red Army Faction/Baader-Meinhoff gang in Germany (1970s-1980s)

Red Brigade terror campaign in Italy (1970s-1980s)

Sendero Luminoso in Peru (1960s-1996)

Loyalists in Scotland (UVF & UFF)

Weather Underground terror campaign (1969-1973)

Wounded-Knee occupation (1973)