The ARIS Primer on the Science of Resistance (CH 1) identifies the importance of redefining “resistance” due to the evolving nature of war’s evolution, tactics and outcomes.
War
• Civil wars have replaced interstate wars
• Irregular warfare has overcome traditional warfare methods o Irregular warfare: “violent struggle among non-state actors for legitimacy and influence over the relevant population” (ARIS, Pg. 14, Para. 3, Lines 3-5)
• Irregular warfare was a secondary concern for the military industrial complex
Resistance
• Resistance is when people oppose government or authoritative control
• Begins in the human heart and manifests through protests, demonstrations, strikes clandestine organizations, underground newspapers, sabotage, subversion, guerrilla warfare and eventually civil war
• Several definitions of resistance have existed to include non-violent and violent forms of resistance
• Modern revolutionary warfare definition of resistance includes “velvet” revolutions
• Velvet revolutions are begotten by entirely or predominately nonviolent means
• ARIS definition of resistance: “a form of contention or asymmetric conflict involving participants’ limited or collective
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ARIS describes the human element of resistance which is a pivotal fact prior definitions would rather us to ignore. These non-violent or “Velvet” revolutions or resistance movements have been successful at achieving their objectives and should not be easily discarded. Something easily done with the previous view on resistance and conflict. Essentially, ARIS is drawing attention to the gradual transformation of a non-violent resistance into a violent resistance. Acceptance of this awareness in all forms should enable political and military leaders the necessary cues to intervene within a resistance at the optimal point in