When one thinks about torture, disappearances, social movements, civil war and genocide, they can think of several large-scale political-economic processes that are “responsible” (i.e., the cause, the reason). While useful, this approach may only provide information about when and why such activities occur. It does not reveal much insight into how such activities take place. Additionally, it may be the case that a closer, less aggregate approach to the topic reveal completely different causal processes
For approximately 10-11 years, I have been trying to understand what takes place when repression and dissent occur. The work on this webpage explores different examinations of this topic that are essentially “meso" or "micro” in nature (i.e., those that highlight factors at the sub-national level, emphasizing space/place, dynamics and diffusion).
This work highlights the importance of disaggregating political behavior in order to understand what is taking place as well as tracking the activities of specific agents who are predisposed towards relevant behavior.
Repression & Behavioral Challenges
The US vs. the Republic of New Africa
Most individuals believe that repression plays an important role in the destruction of social movements. This proposition forms one half of what is popularly known as the “Conflict-Repression Nexus.” Is this true? Does repressive behavior contribute to the elimination of social movements? Exactly how does this work? Alternatively, is there something within social movements themselves that contributes to their destruction?
I believe that the answer to these questions involves a detailed examination of what happens within social movement organizations and within repressive agencies. Such analyses have been largely ignored within existing literature which tends to rely upon highly aggregated investigations of state-dissident interactions. The research below explores these issues.
To provide some insight into the death of social movements, I examine what diverse local, state and federal police organizations did against a black nationalist organization called the Republic of New Africa as well as what took place within the movement on a daily basis (i.e., when/where meetings occur, who attends, what is discussed, what is done and what is planned). The RNA existed between 1968 and 1974 based in Detroit but with chapters throughout the U.S. My records (a combination of files from 14 different policing organizations as well as files from the RNA itself) focus on the Detroit chapter.
Books Relevant to Killing Social Movements
How Social Movements Die: Mobilization, Repression and Demobilization in the Republic of New Africa (Cambridge University Press, Forthcoming)
Works Relevant to Killing Social Movements
“Understanding Covert Repressive Action: The Case of the U.S. Government Against
the Republic of New Africa” - The Journal of Conflict Resolution 2005
“Cued to Coerce or Coercing Cues? Exploring the Relationship Between Dissident Rhetoric and State Repression” (with Marci Eads) - Mobilization 2001
“Tracking Down the Empirical Legacy of the Black Panther Party (or Notes on the Perils of Pursuing the Panthers)”(with Claudia Dahlerus). In Liberation, Imagination and the Black Panther Party, Kathleen Cleaver and George Katsiaficas, eds. Boulder: Routledge. 2000.
“Rereading the Voice of the Vanguard Party: A Content and Rhetorical Analysis of the Black Panther Party Intercommunal Newsletter From 1969–1973.” In The Black Panther Party Reconsidered: Reflections and Scholarship, Charles Jones, ed. Baltimore: Black Classic Press. 1998.
Data Links (Forthcoming)
All Against All or Some Against Some? Rwanda, 1994
Conventional wisdom maintains that in 1994 the extremist government of Rwanda went on a rampage, killing its Tutsi population and members of its Hutu population that were politically at odds with its policy of accommodating rebels engaged in civil war (the Rwandan Patriotic Front). From this view, the mass murder that took place between April and July was one-sided. with the government and its associates (militias like the Interahamwe) doing all the killing. An alternative argument, however, maintains that there were multiple perpetrators in Rwanda in 1994, each killing individuals for different reasons. Here, the government, militias, the rebels and ordinary citizens engaged in political violence.
Which characterization of the violence is correct? To address this question, we have engaged in a ten-year examination of a wide variety of sources in order to assemble a commune by commune as well as day by day evaluation of political violence. Our research significantly advances understanding about political violence by reconstructing what took place in a highly detailed manner.
Books Relevant to Rwandan Political Violence
In search of Number: Rwanda, Violence and Social Science (with Allan Stam)
Works Relevant to Rwandan Political Violence
Rwandan Political Violence in Space and Time (with Allan Stam)
“Understanding Rwandan Violence in Space and Time” (with Allan Stam). GIS Educator. (Spring): 6-7. 2005.
Data Links (Forthcoming)
Everyday Oppression:
Untouchability in Gujarat, 2005-2008
Untouchability (i.e., caste discrimination) has existed in some form within India for approximately 3,000 years. These activities are noteworthy because they essentially pervade all aspects of the victims lives. Although outlawed by the Indian constitution, untouchability is still practiced throughout the country but largely without monitoring, observation, discussion or prosecution.
What activities are involved? Is untouchability improving or worsening over time? What accounts for its variation? Who engages in this behavior? Who suffers the most from untouchability? Are different explanatory factors important for different types of untouchability. In order to address these questions, I joined a research team of international activists and academics to engage in one of the largest analyses of the topic. Specifically, between 2005 and 2008 we completed a census of 98 untouchability practices within 1655 villages in Gujarat, India. Our research involved both community as well as household level inquiries, exploring age, gender and subcaste-specific influences.
Books Relevant to Untouchability
Understanding Untouchability: A Comprehensive Study of Practices and
Conditions in 1655 Villages (Underway with Martin Macwan, David Armstrong, Amanda Klassing, Manjula Pradeep, Allan Stam and Monika Kalra Varma)
Works Relevant to Untouchability
“Activism and Awareness: Resistance, Cognitive Activation and ‘Seeing’ Untouchability Among 98,316 Dalits” (with Priyamvada Trivedi). Journal of Peace Research. 50(3): 369-383.
“Understanding Untouchability: A Comprehensive Study of Practices and
Conditions in 1655 Villages” (Forthcoming with Martin Macwan, David Armstrong, Amanda Klassing, Manjula Pradeep, Allan Stam and Monika Kalra Varma)
Data Links (Forthcoming)
Everyday Repression:
Raids, Arrests and Countering Everything in Northern Ireland
(Forthcoming)
General Links
International Household Survey Network
A Micro-Level Analysis of Violent Conflict
Research & Knowledge
Group Formation, Identities and Mobilisation
Contemporary Conflicts and Ethnic-Religious Tensions
Gender Aspects of Violent Conflicts
Migration, Displacement and Refugees
Risk, Security and Coping Mechanisms
Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion
Violent Conflict and Health Outcomes
Governance and Institutions
Households in Conflict
Research papers
Information about relevant surveys and household datasets
News about research activities
Disaggregating the Study of Civil War and Transnational Violence (Conference Webpage)
Mapping Terror in Zimbabwe: Political Violence and Elections in 2008
For approximately 10-11 years, I have been trying to understand what takes place when repression and dissent occur. The work on this webpage explores different examinations of this topic that are essentially “meso" or "micro” in nature (i.e., those that highlight factors at the sub-national level, emphasizing space/place, dynamics and diffusion).
This work highlights the importance of disaggregating political behavior in order to understand what is taking place as well as tracking the activities of specific agents who are predisposed towards relevant behavior.
Repression & Behavioral Challenges
The US vs. the Republic of New Africa
Most individuals believe that repression plays an important role in the destruction of social movements. This proposition forms one half of what is popularly known as the “Conflict-Repression Nexus.” Is this true? Does repressive behavior contribute to the elimination of social movements? Exactly how does this work? Alternatively, is there something within social movements themselves that contributes to their destruction?
I believe that the answer to these questions involves a detailed examination of what happens within social movement organizations and within repressive agencies. Such analyses have been largely ignored within existing literature which tends to rely upon highly aggregated investigations of state-dissident interactions. The research below explores these issues.
To provide some insight into the death of social movements, I examine what diverse local, state and federal police organizations did against a black nationalist organization called the Republic of New Africa as well as what took place within the movement on a daily basis (i.e., when/where meetings occur, who attends, what is discussed, what is done and what is planned). The RNA existed between 1968 and 1974 based in Detroit but with chapters throughout the U.S. My records (a combination of files from 14 different policing organizations as well as files from the RNA itself) focus on the Detroit chapter.
Books Relevant to Killing Social Movements
How Social Movements Die: Mobilization, Repression and Demobilization in the Republic of New Africa (Cambridge University Press, Forthcoming)
Works Relevant to Killing Social Movements
“Understanding Covert Repressive Action: The Case of the U.S. Government Against
the Republic of New Africa” - The Journal of Conflict Resolution 2005
“Cued to Coerce or Coercing Cues? Exploring the Relationship Between Dissident Rhetoric and State Repression” (with Marci Eads) - Mobilization 2001
“Tracking Down the Empirical Legacy of the Black Panther Party (or Notes on the Perils of Pursuing the Panthers)”(with Claudia Dahlerus). In Liberation, Imagination and the Black Panther Party, Kathleen Cleaver and George Katsiaficas, eds. Boulder: Routledge. 2000.
“Rereading the Voice of the Vanguard Party: A Content and Rhetorical Analysis of the Black Panther Party Intercommunal Newsletter From 1969–1973.” In The Black Panther Party Reconsidered: Reflections and Scholarship, Charles Jones, ed. Baltimore: Black Classic Press. 1998.
Data Links (Forthcoming)
All Against All or Some Against Some? Rwanda, 1994
Conventional wisdom maintains that in 1994 the extremist government of Rwanda went on a rampage, killing its Tutsi population and members of its Hutu population that were politically at odds with its policy of accommodating rebels engaged in civil war (the Rwandan Patriotic Front). From this view, the mass murder that took place between April and July was one-sided. with the government and its associates (militias like the Interahamwe) doing all the killing. An alternative argument, however, maintains that there were multiple perpetrators in Rwanda in 1994, each killing individuals for different reasons. Here, the government, militias, the rebels and ordinary citizens engaged in political violence.
Which characterization of the violence is correct? To address this question, we have engaged in a ten-year examination of a wide variety of sources in order to assemble a commune by commune as well as day by day evaluation of political violence. Our research significantly advances understanding about political violence by reconstructing what took place in a highly detailed manner.
Books Relevant to Rwandan Political Violence
In search of Number: Rwanda, Violence and Social Science (with Allan Stam)
Works Relevant to Rwandan Political Violence
Rwandan Political Violence in Space and Time (with Allan Stam)
“Understanding Rwandan Violence in Space and Time” (with Allan Stam). GIS Educator. (Spring): 6-7. 2005.
Data Links (Forthcoming)
Everyday Oppression:
Untouchability in Gujarat, 2005-2008
Untouchability (i.e., caste discrimination) has existed in some form within India for approximately 3,000 years. These activities are noteworthy because they essentially pervade all aspects of the victims lives. Although outlawed by the Indian constitution, untouchability is still practiced throughout the country but largely without monitoring, observation, discussion or prosecution.
What activities are involved? Is untouchability improving or worsening over time? What accounts for its variation? Who engages in this behavior? Who suffers the most from untouchability? Are different explanatory factors important for different types of untouchability. In order to address these questions, I joined a research team of international activists and academics to engage in one of the largest analyses of the topic. Specifically, between 2005 and 2008 we completed a census of 98 untouchability practices within 1655 villages in Gujarat, India. Our research involved both community as well as household level inquiries, exploring age, gender and subcaste-specific influences.
Books Relevant to Untouchability
Understanding Untouchability: A Comprehensive Study of Practices and
Conditions in 1655 Villages (Underway with Martin Macwan, David Armstrong, Amanda Klassing, Manjula Pradeep, Allan Stam and Monika Kalra Varma)
Works Relevant to Untouchability
“Activism and Awareness: Resistance, Cognitive Activation and ‘Seeing’ Untouchability Among 98,316 Dalits” (with Priyamvada Trivedi). Journal of Peace Research. 50(3): 369-383.
“Understanding Untouchability: A Comprehensive Study of Practices and
Conditions in 1655 Villages” (Forthcoming with Martin Macwan, David Armstrong, Amanda Klassing, Manjula Pradeep, Allan Stam and Monika Kalra Varma)
Data Links (Forthcoming)
Everyday Repression:
Raids, Arrests and Countering Everything in Northern Ireland
(Forthcoming)
General Links
International Household Survey Network
A Micro-Level Analysis of Violent Conflict
Research & Knowledge
Group Formation, Identities and Mobilisation
Contemporary Conflicts and Ethnic-Religious Tensions
Gender Aspects of Violent Conflicts
Migration, Displacement and Refugees
Risk, Security and Coping Mechanisms
Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion
Violent Conflict and Health Outcomes
Governance and Institutions
Households in Conflict
Research papers
Information about relevant surveys and household datasets
News about research activities
Disaggregating the Study of Civil War and Transnational Violence (Conference Webpage)
Mapping Terror in Zimbabwe: Political Violence and Elections in 2008
