Fear in exile: Transnational repression and its toll on social relations among Tibetans in exile

This article conceptualizes the process of erosive repression in order to examine how instances of transnational repression (TR) impact social and relational dynamics within the Tibetan exile community. Although existing scholarship has documented the tactics of TR employed against their targets, less focus has been granted to the cumulative, long-term social consequences of these practices. Through implementation of interviews and observations made across multiple periods of fieldwork in India, this article seeks to address this. The process of erosive repression demonstrates the ways that Tibetans have made changes to their behaviors and relationships to minimize harm, due to both actual and perceived instances of TR. Through conceptualizing repression as a process, the article not only makes space for the analysis of singular incidents of TR but also brings to the forefront the very real societal consequences of the practice, as well. Not only does this provide key insights into current challenges facing Tibetan’s in exile, it also allows for contributions to be made to wider human rights studies, with the process of erosive repression demonstrating applicability across further studies of repression.