Filling the Gap: Nonviolent strategies for civilian self-protection during mass atrocities
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2014
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Swarthmore College
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Swarthmore College. Dept. of Peace and Conflict Studies
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Full copyright to this work is retained by the student author. It may only be used for non-commercial, research, and educational purposes. All other uses are restricted.
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Abstract
This thesis seeks to highlight and understand the phenomenon of civilian self-protection during
mass atrocities. I begin by demonstrating the structural barriers to international atrocity
prevention and mitigation, and why civilian self-protection is therefore necessary. Next, to
contexualize civilian self-protection, I look at why mass atrocities happen and how they work,
arguing they are elite-led processes, but occur in a complex conflict system. The core of the
thesis looks at empirical examples of civilian self-protection, theorizes their dynamics, and
proposes avenues for their improvement. Finally, I use civilian self-protection to bridge divides
between various theories and disciplines. This thesis is the first academic work to examine why
civilian self-protection is necessary, how civilians respond differently to various types of mass
violence, and civilian self-protection's place in related theoretical literature.