| Summary: | Resistance movements have become one of the most visible signs of advocating for social change, challenging an unjust system, and changing the status quo. This study aims to enhance our understanding of why some resistance movements choose a non-violent strategy, while others choose a violent one, by answering the research question: what explains the choice of violent or non-violent strategy in resistance movements? This thesis argues that when there is a presence of leaders or organisers, a movement becomes more cohesive, coordinated and able to provide protesters with an outlet for their emotions. In contrast, in the absence of a leader or organiser, a movement is expected to remain fragmented and the outbreak of violence being closer. Using the method of structured focused comparison, the hypothesis is tested on two protest movements in Tirana, Albania. Data was collected through interviews with protesters and archive research. The findings indicate that coordinated measures taken by leaders and organisers result in a cohesive resistance movement where there is a viable platform for protesters to phrase their grievances and claims for social change without resorting to violence.
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