Rebellion

Understanding Rebellion: A Deep Dive

Rebellion is a complex phenomenon that has fascinated scholars and policymakers alike. It’s not just about violence; it’s a multifaceted struggle for change.

The Nature of Rebellion

A rebellion, as we often hear, is a violent uprising against one’s government. But what exactly does this mean? Is a rebel simply someone who engages in such an act, or are there deeper layers to their motivations and actions?

Rebel groups aim to gain political control over states or portions of them. This can range from armed insurrections to more peaceful civil resistance movements. The causes of rebellion are varied but often stem from perceived inequality or marginalization.

Theoretical Perspectives on Rebellion

Macro theories analyze objective relationships and conflicts among groups and nations, while Marxist philosophy views rebellion as symptomatic of class-based power relations.

Ted Gurr’s roots of political violence define it as collective attacks within a community against the regime. He identifies three types of relative deprivation: decremental (decrease in capacity despite high expectations), aspirational (increase in expectation but no change in capacity), and progressive (increase in both expectation and capacity but inability to keep up).

Charles Tilly argues that political violence is an endogenous reaction to competition for power among groups within society. He proposes two models: the polity model, which considers government and group interactions; and the mobilization model, which examines a single party’s struggle for power.

The Success of Revolutions

Chalmers Johnson views revolutions as symptoms of societal pathologies, while Theda Skocpol introduces social revolution, focusing on grassroots movements that transform state and class structures. She identifies three stages: the collapse of the old regime, peasant uprisings, and societal transformation.

Social revolutions aim to change a society’s fundamental structures through collective action. The success depends on forming coalitions between different groups within society and contenders advancing alternative claims for control over government.

The Role of Peasants in Revolution

Peasant uprisings are crucial in many revolutionary movements, as highlighted by Skocpol’s quote from Barrington Moore: ‘peasants provided the dynamite to bring down the old building.’ These uprisings depend on autonomy and control over local politics. The coercive structures of the state must be weakened for peasants to rebel effectively.

Societal transformation follows, leading to stronger states in Russia, China, and France, with varying degrees of support from industrial or rural areas.

Theories Behind Rebellion

Microfoundational evidence on causes includes theories based on Mancur Olson’s work. The Rational Peasant theory by Samuel L. Popkin suggests that peasants make decisions based on cost-benefit analysis, focusing on short-term gain and long-term security.

Four variables impact individual participation in collective action: contribution to resources, rewards (income and reduced oppression), marginal impact of the peasant’s contribution, and leadership viability and trust.

The Moral Economy School

The moral economy school considers social norms, moral values, interpretation of justice, and conception of duty as prime influencers in rebellion decisions. This perspective adheres to Olson’s framework but considers different variables for the cost/benefit analysis.

James C. Scott’s work in ‘The Moral Economy of the Peasant’ explores how peasants make rational decisions based on moral grounds rather than purely material ones. He argues that landowners have a moral duty to prioritize peasant subsistence over constant benefit.

The Impact of Grievances and Greed

Blattman and Ralston recognize the importance of immaterial selective incentives, such as anger, outrage, and injustice in rebellion roots. They categorize grievances into intrinsic incentives (fighting for justice), loss aversion (preferring not losing over taking risks), and frustration-aggression theory (emotional responses to threats).

Political violence is influenced by hyperlocal socio-economic factors according to Stathis N. Kalyvas, who challenges the breakdown of authority and abstract group loyalties paradigms. He argues that rebellion arises from local cleavages and intracommunity dynamics rather than ideologies.

The Conclusion

Rebellion is a complex interplay of macro theories, microfoundational evidence, and individual motivations. It’s not just about violence; it’s a struggle for change rooted in deep-seated grievances and aspirations. Understanding these dynamics can help us better address the root causes of rebellion and work towards more peaceful resolutions.