This is one of the key challenges facing both the conflict resolution field and the world as a whole today. Most conflict resolvers strive to see the goodness in everyone and the potential for them to "come around and do right." Consequently, many of us underestimate the severity of the threat of tyrants (large and small) and people we call "tyrant wannabes" — people who pursue an agenda of unbounded greed with extreme Machiavellian ruthlessness. Their goal is a dispute resolution system in which all conflicts are resolved in favor of the tyrant. Control is maintained by killing and terrorizing all who oppose them, including peacebuilders and others who seek a more constructive and nonviolent approach to conflict. Once established, tyrannies are extraordinarily stable, as they have the force of the police and the military to back them up. Thus, a subsidiary challenge is the question of how to assure that police and military forces are used legitimately to provide security and justice for all citizens, not just for the dominant elite.

Even when tyrannies are overthrown, the country is likely to fall prey to yet another tyranny or become a failed state, which can easily fall into chaos and anarchy. Iraq is the example that is most on people's minds at the moment, but there have been many others. One of the great — and as yet unanswered — challenges is how to effectively prevent the rise of tyrants or, if they are already established, how to successfully overthrow them without unleashing chaos in their wake.

Closely linked to the problems of tyranny and terrorism is the problem of what might be called "state terrorism," the situation in which police and military forces are used illegitimately.

Though little literature in our field directly addresses how to deal with tyranny, the field does have a number of theories and practical approaches which hold promise. Most relate, in one way or another, to Kenneth Boulding's and, later, Paul Wehr's theory of the "Power Strategy Mix." This theory asserts that there are three kinds of power: threats, exchange, and "love," or "the stick, the carrot, and the hug." (Recognizing that the word "love" may make some people feel uncomfortable, Boulding suggested that one could replace it with the word "respect." Boulding also uses the term "integrative system," referring to the part of the social system that integrates or pulls people together.) Most conflict experts agree that none of these sources of power will work alone to counter tyranny; rather, they must be used in combination. Thus, force alone is unlikely to succeed — especially if it is not perceived as being used in a legitimate way (and legitimacy, Boulding notes, is part of the integrative system). Negotiation (i.e., exchange) alone will also not work, as tyrants or tyrant wannabes are unlikely to be willing to negotiate when they believe they are holding most or all of the power. Likewise, soft approaches — aid, persuasive appeals, and incentives — are unlikely to be effective alone either, because tyrants do not need any of those things to maintain their power.

But, the "power strategy mix" theory holds that, if used together, these approaches can be much more effective. Support (an aspect of the integrative system) must be given to the victims and the weak who suffer the effects of tyranny; incentives (carrots) can be given to some of the less-committed followers to try to entice them to join the opposition; and threats (and even overt force) are often needed either to unseat tyrants, prevent them from gaining power, or prevent them from extending their reach, while undermining their support structures. Even when force is used, however, it is generally much more effective when it is seen as legitimate — which means that it is used with a large dose of persuasion and other integrative approaches. We have a number of readings available on these topics, as is shown below.

First is an introductory article on power that explains the different forms of power and the "power strategy mix."

Then, we have a series of articles on coercive power and force that examines their use, risk, and responses to them when they are used by others (including tyrants and "tyrant wannabes").

• Coercive Power   This article explains the nature of coercive power (force), its uses and benefits (for good and bad) and its unintended consequences (backlash and escalation).
• Revenge and the Backlash Effect   Most people hate to be forced to do things against their will. Using threats or force often produces such a large backlash that it can cause more problems than it solves, both for tyrants, who are constantly threatened with overthrow if they let their guard down, and for opponents of the tyrants, where any attempt at forceful opposition is likely to lead to a violent reprisal.
• Escalation   This essay discusses the nature of escalation, which is a common result of force-based tactics

Another set of articles discusses potential responses to coercive power, which actually are the other forms of power in Boulding's "three faces of power" and Wehr's "power strategy mix."

• Exchange Power   Stated simply, exchange power means that I do something for you in order to get you to do something for me. In the context of international relations and politics, it translates into negotiation and bargaining and it takes place all the time, both officially and unofficially.
• Incentives   Incentives (also known as bribes) involve rewarding another party for changing their behavior. Although incentives have been frequently associated with weakness or indecisiveness, they can be an effective approach for resolving conflicts — even, sometimes, getting tyrants to change their behavior (although that is admittedly difficult).
• Integrative Power   Integrative power is the power that binds humans together. Kenneth Boulding calls it "love" or, "if that is too strong," he said, "call it respect." Though seldom studied or discussed, Boulding argues that it is the strongest form of power, especially because the other two forms (exchange and coercive power) cannot operate without integrative power too.
• Persuasion   Persuasion is the ability to change people's attitudes largely through the skillful use of language. Martin Luther King's letter from a Birmingham Jail is a classic example of persuasion. Used alone against tyrants or tyrant wannabes, it seldom has much effect, but it is an important part of the "power strategy mix" and is key to getting people to work to oppose tyranny.
• Sanctions   Sanctions are punishments that are used to try to influence other groups or nation-states' behaviors. They are sometimes used in an effort to influence a tyrant's behavior or to destabilize a tyrant so his own people will overthrow him. Examples of sanctions are embargoes, boycotts, 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   Even the most powerful and violent dictators cannot stay in power without substantial support of their followers (for example, of their enforcers). Advocates of nonviolent direct action argue that this is often an effective way to influence people to remove such support, without using violence. Though difficult to implement, there have been notable successes — such as the downfall of the Soviet Union and many other formerly-Communist states, that were successfully overthrown with nonviolent movements.

Book Summaries:

• Ending Civil Wars: The Implementation of Peace Agreements
  Stephen John Stedman, Donald Rothchild, and Elizabeth M. Cousens
  In order for a peace agreement to lead to a sustainable peace, it must be effectively implemented. One aspect of this implementation is providing nonviolent dispute resolution and controlling the actions of spoilers and others who often try to use force to derail an agreement.
• Book Summary: Forceful Persuasion: Coercive Diplomacy as an Alternative to War
  Alexander George
  In coercive diplomacy, one backs one’s demands with a credible and potent threat of punishment. George identifies key factors that influence the success of such tactics. He argues that while potentially less costly than military action, coercive diplomacy is only rarely a “high-confidence strategy.”
• Taming Intractable Conflicts: Mediation in the Hardest Cases
  Chester A. Crocker, Fen Osler Hampson, and Pamela Aall
  Taming Intractable Conflicts seeks to develop a strategic approach to the mediation of "the most difficult conflicts." This approach attempts to identify the type of conflicts in which intervention is likely to be successful, how to intervene effectively and how to time the intervention properly.
• Exploring Nonviolent Alternatives
  Gene Sharp
  Nonviolent actions deny the human assistance and cooperation necessary to exercise control over a population. Sharp discusses the techniques of non-violent action and its implication for national defense
• Methods of Nonviolent Action
  Gene Sharp
  Nonviolent action puts violent opponents in a “double-bind”. If they fail to oppress the nonviolent actors their position is undermined. On the other hand, if they do sympathy for the nonviolent actors is increased. This book details various nonviolent methods under the general categories of protests, non-cooperation and intervention techniques.
• Three Faces of Power
  Kenneth E. Boulding
  In this book, Boulding examines three forms of power: coercive power (the stick), exchange power (the carrot) and integrative power (the hug) and how these three interplay with each other in all forms of social relationships.
• From Voting to Violence: Democratization and Nationalist Conflict
  Jack Snyder
  In countries making the transition to democracy, electoral competition can lead to extremist appeals and ultimately violence. Snyder reviews two possible explanations for this phenomenon: “popular-rivalries” and “elite-persuasion”.
• Human Security Report 2005: War and Peace in the 21st Century
  Human Security Centre
  This is the result of a University of British Columbia research project, which examined patterns of armed conflict, human rights abuses, and genocide around the world. It concludes that all forms of political violence (except terrorism) have been in dramatic decline since the end of the Cold War, largely as a result of intentional interventions by the UN.
• Article Summary of "A Diplomat's View"
  Cameron R. Hume
  Hume identifies significant changes in the modern international scene, and describes correspondingly new, experimental approaches to diplomacy. He discusses the role of the UN Security Council, and uses of impartial third parties, regional organizations of states, and force and sanctions.
• Security Sector Reform and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding
  Ehrart, Hans-Georg and Albrecht Schnabel
  A secure environment is necessary for political, economic and cultural well-being. In post conflict societies a secure environment often requires the reformation of the security sector. This book discusses the proper role of local and external actors in pursuing such reform.

Other Resources of Interest:

• Schulz, Markus. 1998. Collective Action Across Borders: Opportunity Structures, Network Capacities, and Communicative Praxis in the Age of Advanced Globalization. Sociological Perspectives; 1998, Vol. 41 Issue 3, p587-616.
  Author's Description
• Daalder, Ivo H. "Decision to Intervene: How the War in Bosnia Ended." Foreign Service Journal, Dec 1998. Available from: The Brookings Institution, http://www.brook.edu/.
  Author's Description
• O'Hanlon, Michael and Stephen Solarz. "Deciding When To Go." The Washington Post, Outlook, 7 Feb 1999. Available from: The Brookings Institution, http://www.brookings.edu/views/op-ed/OHanlon/19990207.htm.
  Consortium Abstract
• Rice, Susan. "Collective Response to Crisis: Strengthening UN Peace Operations Capacity." United Nations and Global Security. http://www.un-globalsecurity.org/
  Consortium Abstract
• Tyranny state conflict
  Conflict Publishers | Conflict News | Google Scholar

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• Carrot Stick conflict
  Conflict Publishers | Conflict News | Google Scholar

• JUSTICE WITHOUT VIOLENCE — Nonviolent protest strategies face their ultimate test when confronting violent pirates willing to brutally suppress any and all forms of protest.