What is violence? What is nonviolence? Can there be a nonviolent alternative to violence in the pursuit of justice? In answering these questions, explain and evaluate Nagler=s analysis of these concepts and of the power of nonviolence for social and even revolutionary change?
(2) Explain and evaluate Nagler’s claim (and his reasoning for that claim) that “nonviolence sometimes >works= and always works, while violence sometimes >works= but never works” (p. 106). Also, in your evaluation, consider the possible effectiveness of using nonviolence today.
(3) Nagler challenges the claim that nonviolence could never have worked against the Nazis. Explain and evaluate his argument for this challenge. In your evaluation, you should consider: (a) his analysis of the Rosenstrabe demonstration; and (b) your own assessment of the effectiveness and possible limits of nonviolent resistance.
(4) In My Lai, U.S. army soldiers massacred perhaps as many as 500 women, children, and elderly men. The only person brought to trial and convicted for these actions was Lieutenant William Calley who argued that he was simply carrying out orders. Who, in the chain of command, is responsible for this and other such atrocities carried out by U.S armed forces? How is it possible that ordinary American soldiers can do these things? In answering these questions, you should explain and evaluate: (a) Kelman and Hamilton’s analysis of the way massacres are sanctioned; (b) Dyer’s analysis of the ways in which recruits in basic training are socialized to be violent.
