Spaces of Suppression, Resistance; Strategies of Cohesion, Momentum

Abstract

Resistance occurs across a broad spectrum. Strategies exercised in the space between covert, or diffuse, and demonstrative, or revolutionary, resistance have not been fully clarified. Five themes inductively emerged from analysis of modern social movements in repressive contexts within Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Estonia, Guyana, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Nicaragua, Nigeria, Suriname, and Thailand. Focusing on these strategies brings a new understanding of representations of "middle-of-the-spectrum" resistance. These may be keys to expanding concepts of how cohesion and momentum are achieved. Further, no current social movement theory adequately allowed for analysis of the cases; thus a new social movement theory must emerge.