Repression Management and the Arts of Nonviolent Strategy.

Social movements challenging autocratic regimes or powerful institutions must often deal with the prospects of repression and intimidation aimed at arresting popular resistance and chilling the prospects of future dissent. Repressive measures can successfully raise the cost of movement participation and thus undermine challenges, but paradoxically, they can also enhance mobilization. A number of scholars have undertaken to better understand the circumstances or opportunity structures in which repression is effective or ineffective. Inspired by work in cultural pragmatics and performance studies, however, we assert that the artful application of methods and tactics can raise the likelihood that repression will trigger further mobilization and discredit authoritarian regimes and institutions. Much depends on the ability of social movement leadership to choreograph actions and harness deeply meaningful popular narratives that help ensure that repression will be widely interpreted as unjust and reprehensible. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]