Theories of Civil Violence

"Theories of Civil Violence is much more than the overview of current theories of political contention that it appears initially to be. It is, rather, a case study in which the history of multiple, but selected, streams of conflict theory is used in order to study progress in social science theory generally. . . . There are adept summarizations and shrewd insights aplenty. . . . Anyone interested in metatheory, in the sociology of knowledge, in theoretical change in the social sciences, and especially in popular contention would be well advised to read it."--James W. White, American Journal of Sociology "Theories of Civil Violence is one of the two or three most important books in conflict theory of the decade."--Ted Robert Gurr, University of Colorado, Boulder "This is a rich and imaginative work steeped in common sense and directive for improving our understanding. Rule is a master at reflexive discourse. Theories of Civil Violence will surely endure as a chronicle and commentary."--Gary T. Marx, Massachusetts Institute of Technology