From Bullets to Ballots: Violent Muslim Movements in TransitionFrom Bullets to Ballots considers non-state Muslim organizations at different stages of abandoning violence and pursuing their goals through a political process. Some have successfully made the transition. Others are in mid-stream. Some have tried but backtracked, splintered, or simply abandoned such efforts, reverting to pathological violence. Many groups could be case studies, but Phillips has selected the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Kurdistan Workers Party, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, and the Free Aceh Movement, because they cover the spectrum. This book deals with political strategies for moderating violent Muslim movements by engaging them in the political process. In strong criticism of the Bush administration, Phillips notes that the push for democracy may have increased conflict by giving violent groups "the ballot" which they use to gain power. Focusing on non-state Muslim organizations, From Bullets to Ballots considers the relationship between ideology and policy. Phillips discusses their origin, ideology, structure, and leadership and examines financing, activities, and communications. He assesses the groups' commitment to elections and its acceptance of the responsibility that comes with governance. From Bullets to Ballots draws on twenty years of Phillips' experience working democratization and conflict prevention in the Middle East, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and South Asia. His recommendations are primarily directed to the United States because he believes the United States should be a leader in promoting democracy around the world. At the same time, he is convinced that the United States must tread softly, or run the risk of fomenting further violence, undermining future democratic development, and setting back its own national interests. This is a provocative, informed, and balanced analysis of the theories behind current policies. |
Other editions - View all
From Bullets to Ballots: Violent Muslim Movements in Transition David L. Phillips Limited preview - 2017 |
From Bullets to Ballots: Violent Muslim Movements in Transition David Lawrence Phillips No preview available - 2009 |
From Bullets to Ballots: Violent Muslim Movements in Transition David L. Phillips No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
Abbas Abdullah Aceh Aceh’s Acehnese activities affirmed Al Qaeda America’s ammu APHC Arab armed assassination assistance attacks benefits bombings border Bush administration civil civilians conflict Council countries democracy democratic donors economic Egypt Egyptian elections Erdogan established Fadlallah Fatah field fighters financial financing first flow forces foreign Free Aceh Movement funds GAM’s Gaza goal groups Hamas Hezbollah human rights independence India and Pakistan Indonesia influence intensified Iran Iran’s Iranian Iraq Iraqi Islamic Islamists Israel Israeli Jakarta Jihad JKLF Kashmir Kifaya Kurdish Kurds leaders leadership Lebanese Meshal Middle East militants military Movement Mubarak Muslim Brotherhood Nasrallah negotiations Ocalan Office officials Olmert operations organization organization’s Pakistan Palestine Palestinian Party peace percent political President Prime Minister Qaeda Qur’an reform rejected religious role Saudi Shari’a Shi’a society Syria targeted killings territory terror terrorist tion Turkey Turkey’s Turkish United violence West Bank