Understanding States of Resistance - Project ARIS

Understanding States of Resistance explores the dynamics of resistance movements and their progression through various stages. It delves into the historical, legal, economic, political science, and social movement theory literature to synthesize a comprehensive framework for analyzing resistance movements.

The study draws from early works like Lyford P. Edwards' The Natural History of Revolution and Crane Brinton's The Anatomy of Revolution, which outline stages of revolution from preliminary symptoms to recovery. These works provide a foundational understanding of how resistance movements develop and evolve over time.

The study also discusses the legal continuum of resistance, from legal protests to belligerency, as defined by international law. It highlights the importance of intensity, duration, and organization in determining the legal status of a resistance movement and the applicable legal protections.

The study examines the economic aspects of resistance movements, particularly focusing on how they finance their activities. It references the various stages of financing, which include predatory, parasitic, and symbiotic fund-raising, reflecting the evolution of a movement's economic strategies.

The study delves into the contributions of political science and social movement theory to understanding resistance movements. It discusses the work of scholars like Paul Meadows, Rex D. Hopper, Frederick D. Miller, Sidney G. Tarrow, and the CIA's Guide to the Analysis of Insurgency (also published by Conflict Research Group). These provide insights into the mechanisms, processes, and stages of resistance movements, from preinsurgency to resolution.

The study highlights various mechanisms and processes that drive the evolution of resistance movements, such as interpretation, mobilization, diffusion, and demobilization. It also discusses the factors that contribute to the decline of movements, including repression, co-optation, success, and failure.

The document proposes a synthesized framework for analyzing resistance movements, incorporating elements from the reviewed literature. This framework aims to provide a comprehensive tool for studying the development and dynamics of resistance movements across different contexts.

Understanding States of Resistance offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the complex nature of resistance movements, providing a key resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in the study of insurgency and revolution.