Onvrede ontleed: demonstraties en geweldloos verzet in repressieve regimes

Dissent dissected: protests and nonviolent resistance in repressive regimes Even though the right to protest is under pressure in the Netherlands, citizens still have a multitude of means to express their discontent and resist against the government. This cannot be said for everywhere in the world. In autocracies, activists do so while risking their own lives. Why people in these contexts still choose to resist nonviolently, and when this can work, is explained through the study of Turkmenistan, Belarus and Kirgizstan. Through interviews with 52 Turkmen, Belarusian and Kyrgyz experts and activists, triangulated with literature, the author shows why Turkmenistan has never seen any organized resistance, why the 2020 Belarusian revolution could become so significant, without achieving success, and why Kirgizstan has seen three successful revolutions. Building connections is found to be essential in the onset of a nonviolent resistance movement, while a strong long-term strategy is instrumental for achieving success. In the Netherlands, these factors could also aid healthy opposition and therein strengthen democracy.