TY - JOUR
T1 - Unobtrusive practices of contention in Leninist regimes
AU - Johnston, Hank
AU - Mueller, Carol
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - This article broadens understanding of the mobilization-repression relationship by drawing on materials from eastern European Leninist regimes. It identifies "unobtrusive practices of contention" as an important yet understudied and undertheorized element of political contention in repressive regimes. Three general forms of unobtrusive practices are identified. First, oppositional speech situations are settings in which participants use tacitly understood rules about what can and cannot be said to criticize the regime and "tell the truth." Second, duplicitous groups and organizations are officially recognized associations where oppositional speech tends to cluster. This allows for denser and more continuous interaction that imparts to them a mildly oppositional milieu. Third, dissident circles are the most contentious and least unobtrusive form of opposition. They blur the public-private distinction by emphasizing innovative public tactics such as samizdat press and access to foreign media. All three forms are precursors to public protest and the appearance of movement organizations during white-hot mobilization phases.
AB - This article broadens understanding of the mobilization-repression relationship by drawing on materials from eastern European Leninist regimes. It identifies "unobtrusive practices of contention" as an important yet understudied and undertheorized element of political contention in repressive regimes. Three general forms of unobtrusive practices are identified. First, oppositional speech situations are settings in which participants use tacitly understood rules about what can and cannot be said to criticize the regime and "tell the truth." Second, duplicitous groups and organizations are officially recognized associations where oppositional speech tends to cluster. This allows for denser and more continuous interaction that imparts to them a mildly oppositional milieu. Third, dissident circles are the most contentious and least unobtrusive form of opposition. They blur the public-private distinction by emphasizing innovative public tactics such as samizdat press and access to foreign media. All three forms are precursors to public protest and the appearance of movement organizations during white-hot mobilization phases.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035599769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035599769&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1525/sop.2001.44.3.351
DO - 10.1525/sop.2001.44.3.351
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035599769
SN - 0731-1214
VL - 44
SP - 351
EP - 375
JO - Sociological Perspectives
JF - Sociological Perspectives
IS - 3
ER -