Stephen Zunes - openDemocracy

Powerful nonviolent resistance to armed conflict in Yemen

As with the initial uprising against the Saleh regime four years ago, an unarmed civil society movement rises up to challenge the Huthi militia.

By Stephen Zunes and Noor Al-Haidary

/ 11 Apr 2015

Powerful nonviolent resistance to armed conflict in Yemen

As with the initial uprising against the Saleh regime four years ago, an unarmed civil society movement rises up to challenge the Huthi militia.

By Stephen Zunes and Noor Al-Haidary

/ 11 Apr 2015

How to discredit your democratic opponents in Egypt

The Egyptian military regime is pushing conspiracy theories to discredit their democratic, non-violent opponents. Aiming at several birds with one stone, with respect to their US backers, they are trying to have it both ways at once. Democracy and non-violence will fight back.

By Stephen Zunes

/ 17 Feb 2014

How to discredit your democratic opponents in Egypt

The Egyptian military regime is pushing conspiracy theories to discredit their democratic, non-violent opponents. Aiming at several birds with one stone, with respect to their US backers, they are trying to have it both ways at once. Democracy and non-violence will fight back.

By Stephen Zunes

/ 17 Feb 2014

Mandela’s utilitarianism and the struggle for liberation

“Mandela was a great leader because he recognized that the movement had become a civil insurrection, a largely nonviolent struggle. A great leader is one who recognizes where the movement is and leads them accordingly, not one who says, ‘Do it my way!’”

By Stephen Zunes

/ 13 Dec 2013

Ruthless regimes not impervious to civil resistance: A reply to Maged Mandour

There is little systematic evidence to suggest that “ruthlessness” is, in and of itself, a critical variable.

By Stephen Zunes and Jack DuVall

/ 1 Nov 2013

Ruthless regimes not impervious to civil resistance: A reply to Maged Mandour

There is little systematic evidence to suggest that “ruthlessness” is, in and of itself, a critical variable.

By Stephen Zunes and Jack DuVall

/ 1 Nov 2013

The Maldives: a serial coup in progress?

Should Britain, the United States and others who claim to be concerned, stand by and allow reactionary forces to stage-manage a phony election, this sends yet another inconsistent and disheartening message to those struggling for peaceful democratic change in the Islamic world and beyond.

By Stephen Zunes

/ 15 Oct 2013

The Maldives: a serial coup in progress?

Should Britain, the United States and others who claim to be concerned, stand by and allow reactionary forces to stage-manage a phony election, this sends yet another inconsistent and disheartening message to those struggling for peaceful democratic change in the Islamic world and beyond.

By Stephen Zunes

/ 15 Oct 2013

On Syria, most thoughtful people are torn

Foreign military intervention would prolong the war and increase the carnage still further. But this does not mean that the US in conjunction with others, including Syrian civil society, cannot do anything to help the situation. Reply to Nader Hashemi.

By Stephen Zunes

/ 5 Oct 2013

Opposition to intervention in Syria utilitarian, not ideological

Whether or not a movement is primarily violent or nonviolent, what is important is whether it employs strategies and tactics that can maximize its chances of success. A reply to Nader Hashemi.

By Stephen Zunes

/ 23 Sep 2013

Opposition to intervention in Syria utilitarian, not ideological

Whether or not a movement is primarily violent or nonviolent, what is important is whether it employs strategies and tactics that can maximize its chances of success. A reply to Nader Hashemi.

By Stephen Zunes

/ 23 Sep 2013