Introduction
Many countries around the world have interesting historical backgrounds, in some wars were fought and blood shed to gain independence. Nevertheless other countries had different problems which were social injustices and racial segregation which defined class in the society. In India there was gross violation of rights of the Indian population, in the United States of America it was racial segregation and discrimination whereas in South Africa it was apartheid. These countries have many things in common as their leaders fought against social injustices that dogged them and the more striking one was the approach of non violence and civil disobedience which drove authoritarian regime of the British out of India and the minority rule of South Africa. In the United States of America equal rights were recognized after peaceful demonstrations and boycotts paralyzed the entire nation that they realized the need to follow the constitution to the letter. Great men who were behind these approaches were Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela in that order. This term paper will analyze some of the theories that were applied by these great leaders to fight against social injustices and evils which forced leaders to listen. Each leader will be separately arrayed.
Non Violent Movements of Gandhi, Luther and Mandela
There are many political theories that have been used by numerous leaders around the world which involves power or authority and influence. These include action theory, administrative theory, and activism and anarchism theories. Socially, action theory generates a belief in something and then the desire to achieve or acquire it. Theorist Davidson puts it clear that a desire and a belief originate an action. This theory very well applies to these renowned leaders of the world; they had something more than a desire to fight for rights of their people. It took a great and deep conviction that just a desire or the two combined. Another theory is the administrative theory which combines organizational structures and relationships for coordinating activities. If it were not this theory then Mahatma Gandhi could not have mobilized millions of Indians to a non violence uprising against the oppressive British regime both politically and socially. Martin Luther King Jr. managed to influence thousands if millions of African Americans if it were not the relationship he had created with then as a pastor. Therefore each leader i.e. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther king Jr. and Nelson Mandela in this order will be scrutinized based on their backgrounds and abilities and how they achieved their quest for social justice.
