Coercive Power

Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict

Coercive Power

	Coercive Power Huey Newton wrote, "Politics is war without bloodshed. War is politics with bloodshed." Though not all politics is coercive, it is certainly one way to force people to do what you want. This essay discusses the pros and cons of coercive power--violent, nonviolent, political, military, and more.
	Aggression This essay explores the debate over aggression, asking whether it is an instinct, a reaction or a learned response.
	Revenge and the Backlash Effect Most people hate to be forced to do things against their will. Using threats often produces such a large backlash that they cause more problems than they solve, as this essay explains.
	Sanctions Sanctions are punishments that are used to try to influence other groups or nation-states' behaviors. Examples are embargoes and prohibitions from attending international events. This essay describes the pluses and minuses of using sanctions to influence another's behavior.
	Nonviolence and Nonviolent Direct Action Nonviolent direct action is action, usually undertaken by a group of people, to persuade someone else to change their behavior. Examples include strikes, boycotts, marches, and demonstrations--social, economic, or political acts that are intended to convince the opponent to change their behavior without using violent force

Beyond Intractability Version IV
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The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project
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