From Bullets to Ballots: Violent Muslim Movements in Transition

"Phillip's book promotes an understanding of these groups and the context in which they emerge, helping the reader gain better insight into the culture and beliefs that govern Islamic movements and their evolution." --Digest of Middle East Studies From Bullets to Ballots considers non-state Muslim organizations at different stages of abandoning violence and pursuing their goals through a political process. Some have successfully made the transition. Others are in midstream. Many groups could be case studies, but Phillips has selected the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Kurdistan Workers Party, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, and the Free Aceh Movement, because they cover the spectrum.

About the Author :
"David L. Phillips" is a visiting scholar at Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University. Over more than two decades, he has been a proponent of democracy, human rights, and humanitarian action. Phillips has worked as a senior adviser to the United Nations Secretariat and to the U.S. Department of State. He has held academic positions at Harvard University's Center for Middle East Studies, Columbia University's International Conflict Resolution Program, the American University.

Review :
"Phillips develops six case studies of a variety of violent nonstate organizations that include the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Kurdistan Workers Party, The Free Aceh Movement, and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front... Phillips's book promotes an understanding of these groups and the context in which they emerge, helping the reader gain better insight into the culture and beliefs that govern Islamic movements and their evolution... The book's straightforward language makes it accessible to both policymakers and lay people who desire to learn about Islamic movements. In addition, Phillips's attention to detail, primary sources, and substantive analysis make the book beneficial to the readers, including U.S. diplomats, as well as nongovernmental agencies seeking to understand Islamic movements present in countries in which they operate. In sum, From Bullets to Ballots is not a book that should be ignored." --Kristian Alexander, Digest of Middle East Studies "There are times when the United States must talk to bad guys. While precluding any quarter with Al-Qaeda, David Phillips outlines the shortcomings of a military-only strategy in the fight against terrorism. He persuasively argues that social and economic inequalities and the denial of political rights give rise to extremism. Phillips also offers a strategy for using confrontation, coercion and cooperation to convince violent Muslim movements that terror does not serve their interests--while entering the political process does." --Commerce Secretary-designate New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson "There are times when the United States must talk to bad guys. While precluding any quarter with Al-Qaeda, David Phillips outlines the shortcomings of a military-only strategy in the fight against terrorism. He persuasively argues that social and economic inequalities and the denial of political rights give rise to extremism. Phillips also offers a strategy for using confrontation, coercion and cooperation to convince violent Muslim movements that terror does not serve their interests--while entering the political process does."--Commerce Secretary-designate New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson