Maha on how violent resistance often fails over the long run:
Every time a peaceful resistance is put down, somebody is bound to say they should have used guns. But when an armed insurgency is put down, or when it turns into a cycle of violence and vengeance dragging on for generations, for some reason this doesn't count against the effectiveness of armed insurgency. And how often does the residual anger from one war blossom into the next one?In fact, I'd say nonviolent resistance has a pretty good track record, particularly as far as long-term results are concerned.
Of course, many of the people saying 'they should have used guns' don't actually have to live with the consequences...
After you go read maha: go read hilzoy.
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thanks