Gene Sharp - Sharp's Dictionary of Power and Struggle

acceptable to individuals and groups holding views across the political spectrum.

The term was introduced by Bruce Jenkins.

TREATY. See ALLIANCE, CIVILIAN-BASED DEFENSE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE PACT, and CIVILIAN-BASED DEFENSE TREATY ORGANIZATION .

TRUCE (reconceptualized term). A suspension of a struggle in order to accomplish some purpose. For example, a truce may be called to observe a religious holiday respected by both sides. Often, however, a truce is called to permit the beginning or continuation of *negotiations. The struggle in question may be one waged by *conventional war, *guerrilla warfare, domestic *nonviolent action, *civilian-based defense, *terrorism, or any other means.

Successful negotiations will mean that the truce is followed by a formal halt to the *conflict.

However, the struggle may resume if negotiations fail.

In cases of unsuccessful negotiations, the pause provided by the truce may cause a modification of the course of the conflict, for example by providing a cooling-off period after which the contest may resume in a less extreme form.

TURNING ONE’S BACK. Silent disapproval emphasized by turning one’s back (whether standing or sitting) to the person or persons who are, or who represent, the *opponents.

TYRANNICIDE. *Assassination of a person regarded as a tyrant.

See also TYRANNY. TYRANNY. A political *regime, system, or condition in which the ruling individual or group governs in an arbitrary and oppressive manner with little regard to the wishes, opinions, and well-being of the subjects.

The ruling group threatens and applies various means of *control, including *punishments and *repression, often severe, carried out by police and *military forces. The intention is to procure the *submission and *obedience of the general populace, to enforce policies, and to perpetuate the *government, system, or condition.

Hence, a “tyrant” and “tyrannical.”

See also DICTATORSHIP, OPPRESSION , and TOTALITARIANISM .

ULTIMA RATIO POPULI. “The final argument of the people” (Latin), referring to the population’s final “right” of *revolution when all other means of dealing with *oppression have failed.

ULTIMATUM. A communication from resisters to the *opponents prior to the outbreak of open struggle, which stipulates the minimum acceptable terms for a settlement of the *conflict or issue at hand, a time limit for the opponents to agree to those terms, and an indication of the *sanction which will be imposed if the terms are not met within that time.

Ultimata were formerly often issued before formal declarations of *war, or prior to the severance of diplomatic relations. (See also DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS—SEVERANCE OF REPRESENTATION ).

In *nonviolent action, ultimata have been prominent in Gandhian and neo-Gandhian *campaigns. In those cases the grievances have been described, minimum demands stated, and offers made to cancel plans for the coming *nonviolent campaign if the opponents agreed to