Question

How can both an increase and decrease in repression provide a political opportunity for a movement?

Answer 1

In the studies on civil wars and movements in democracies, it is theorised that there is a general tendency across semi-democracies where repression is found to give rise to an inverted U-shaped relationship between democracy and the risk of civil war. In other words, political researchers have argued that the magnitude of repression is related to the political opportunities and measures used by the masses. Thus, an increase in the repressive structures of the state such a study control of public funds, major industries, freedom of press, etc would result in the rise of concrete and constructive public mobilisation which would emphasise on greater protection of the civil rights of the different groups of the population. However, repression leads to a positive political and social change up to an optimal level after which an excessive increase in repression would result in a decrease in political mobilisation. Instead it would smaprk off mass violence and even civil wars in extreme situations. This is because, in the face of irregular challenges and unfair or unequal distribution of power, there is likely to be a greater homogenisation of political opinions and subjugation of political dissent. As a result, political leaders would lose power in the face of extreme repression , and the lack of freedom, political rights, and opportunities for political participation would increase the people’s general feeling of grievances, thereby increasing the motivation towards violence against the government. In this way, repression can be said to both increase as well as decrease political opportunities for constructive mass movements in a state.