Examples Of Non Violent Revolutions
Violent Revolutions are more Effective than Non-Violent Revolutions History is filled with examples of violent revolutions accomplishing what non-violent revolutions likely never would have accomplished. Whether it is the French Revolution from 1789 to 1799, the Nazi party’s goal for worldwide dominion, or the struggle in South Africa to shake off the chains of apartheid, violent revolutions have led to profound changes where non-violent civil disobedience probably would have failed.
While proponents of non-violent revolutions often cite the likes of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi as examples of freedom fighters who chose brains over brawn, it can be argued that whatever success they may have achieved could have been accomplished more expediently had they been willing to meet their foes with force. Furthermore, in the case of King, it …show more content…
Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years behind bars before being released in 1990 as a result of his opposition to the racist South African government, preferred peaceful civil disobedience to armed struggle. But he was also realistic and realized that there are times when violent civil disobedience is necessary.
In 1961, Mandela was one of the founders of Spear of the Nation, which became "a new armed wing of the" African National Congress ("Nelson Mandela,"). A few years later, Mandela would get the opportunity, during a court trial that would ultimately result in a jail sentence, to explain the reason behind adding an armed wing component to the African National Congress ("Nelson Mandela” 1964):
It would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political
While proponents of non-violent revolutions often cite the likes of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi as examples of freedom fighters who chose brains over brawn, it can be argued that whatever success they may have achieved could have been accomplished more expediently had they been willing to meet their foes with force. Furthermore, in the case of King, it …show more content…
Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years behind bars before being released in 1990 as a result of his opposition to the racist South African government, preferred peaceful civil disobedience to armed struggle. But he was also realistic and realized that there are times when violent civil disobedience is necessary.
In 1961, Mandela was one of the founders of Spear of the Nation, which became "a new armed wing of the" African National Congress ("Nelson Mandela,"). A few years later, Mandela would get the opportunity, during a court trial that would ultimately result in a jail sentence, to explain the reason behind adding an armed wing component to the African National Congress ("Nelson Mandela” 1964):
It would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and non-violence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political