The West Virginia Law Review seeks papers on the topic of non?violence as a means of social change and pathway to democracy for former dictatorships or totalitarian regimes for its special issue, Non-Violence and the Road to Democracy.
Recently, Egypt joined the ranks of countries whose political landscapes are forever changed through nonviolent protest. Today, the spirit of revolution spreads across the Middle Eastwith varying results. This spark and catching flame calls the West Virginia Law Review to contemplate the role of law in the occurrence of non?violence as means of social change and the laws role in transitioning societies from nonviolent revolution to democracy. This contemplation extends to topics including but not limited to:
- the development and treatment of non-violent resistance groups in the context of totalitarian or oppressive regimes;
- teachers of non-violence as agents of the law working against lawless regimes;
- models for effective transitions and peaceful revolution to democracy, including the role of international law and institutions in such transitions;
- the sources of non-violent revolutions, for example, Gandhis teachings;
- non-violent aspects of transitions to democracy in specific countries and regions, such as Egypt, India, Northern Ireland, Russia, Serbia (i.e. Otpor!), South Africa, and Spain; and
- the intersection of non-violent protest, technology (including social networks) and the right to information.
The West Virginia Law Review will consider papers from a variety of disciplines, including history, law, philosophy, and political science. Papers may stray from the traditional article format to adequately address the call above.
Abstracts are due by April 15, 2011.mw
