From Gandhi to Serbia: Passion and Power in Nonviolent Revolutions

Compleat Scholar Course Syllabus, Fall 2005

Instructor: Michael Bischoff, 612-521-1889, michael@clarityfacilitation.com

This syllabus and notes from each class will be online at: www.clarityfacilitation.com/passion.

Course Goals:

1. Learn about examples of leadership in previous nonviolent people’s movements
2. View your own leadership for social change through the perspectives of these examples
3. Analyze and imagine the future of nonviolent movements and their leadership
4. Have fun

October 20

Overview of the course & Gandhi’s leadership

Suggested Readings:

• “A Force More Powerful: India, Defying the Crown.“ http://www.pbs.org/weta/forcemorepowerful/india/
• From Dictatorship to Democracy , Gene Sharp, The Albert Einstein Institution, http://www.aeinstein.org/Resources/FDTD.pdf (the first chapter is a good introduction to the theory of nonviolent power)

Notes from class

October 27

Serbia’s Revolution in 2000 and Characteristics of Otpor’s Leadership

Suggested Readings:

• “Whither the Bulldozer? Nonviolent Revolution and the Transition to Democracy in Serbia,” United States Institute of Peace Special Report.. http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr72.html
• “Bringing Down a Dictator,” PBS. http://www.pbs.org/weta/dictator/

Notes from class

November 3
Recent “Color Revolutions” in Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon

Suggested Readings:

• “Color Revolutions” Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_revolution

Notes from class

Nov. 10

Looking Ahead to the Future of Nonviolent Movements and Leadership

For Additional Reading:

• Ackerman, Peter and DuVall, Jack. A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000.
• Freedom House. “How Freedom Is Won: From Civic Resistance to Durable Democracy,” http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/specreports/civictrans/FHCIVICTRANS.pdf
• Nair, Keshavan. A Higher Standard of Leadership: Lessons from the Life of Gandhi. Berret- San Francisco: Koehler Publishers, 1994.
• Schell, Jonathan. The Unconquerable World: Power, Nonviolence, and the Will of the People. New York: Metropolitan Books. Henry Holt and Co, 2003.