"Thereâ€™s one thing thatâ€™s been 'learned' maybe from Tunisia and Egypt that I think is a mistake. And that is that the existing ruler has to resign. He doesnâ€™t have to resign. You take all the supports out from under him; he falls. No matter what he wants to do. This is the distinction in the analyses between nonviolent coercion in which he has to resign, but heâ€™s forced into it, and disintegration when the regime simply falls apart. Thereâ€™s nobody left with enough power to resign."

-- Gene Sharp

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