CYNTHIA BOAZ - "The Arab Spring: Myths, Realities, and Prospects for Nonviolent Change." (with video)

oaksunsym.org with video (01:21:29):

The events of the last year have stimulated renewed interest in nonviolent strategy as a source of political and social change. In this talk, Dr. Boaz provided an introduction to the dynamics of nonviolent struggle, discussed how these strategies have been implemented in the Arab World, and considered the longer-term prospects for democratic change in the region. She addressed several common misconceptions including those related to the efficacy of nonviolent action, the relationship between power and violence, and the role of culture in the Arab uprisings. She concluded by considering how citizens of democratic societies can support people in other parts of the world who are trying to gain rights, freedom or democracy through nonviolent means. Dr. Cynthia Boaz is assistant professor of political science at Sonoma State University, where she specializes in political development, quality of democracy, political communication and media, civil resistance, and nonviolent struggles. She has written extensively on the nonviolent democracy movements in Iran and Burma. She is also an analyst and consultant on nonviolent action, is an academic advisor for the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, the Vice President of the Metta Center for Nonviolence, and on the Executive Board of the Media Freedom Foundation. She is also contributing writer with Truthout and the Huffington Post. She is currently writing a book on media framing of civil resistance and nonviolent struggles for University of Queensland Press.