Toppling Them Softly...

Nick Gillespie | May 21, 2003

Newsday has an interesting piece about how nonviolent resistance has played a role in toppling tyrants in Yugoslavia, Chile, the Philippines, and elsewhere.

Writes Bob Keeler:

The tactics of nonviolent conflict won't always succeed. But violent internal uprisings have little chance against the state's greater violence, and invasion shatters infrastructure and impedes democracy-building after the struggle ends. So nonviolent strategy should be considered a serious option.

Next up may be Cuba, where Castro's recent repression is alienating his few remaining apologists. That's often a leading indicator that a dictator is on the verge of a nervous takedown.