Political repression facts for kids
Political repression is when a government or state uses force to control its people. They do this for political reasons, often to stop citizens from being involved in the country's politics or from disagreeing with the government.
Governments use repression to stay in power, especially if people might challenge their ideas. In countries where one person or a small group has all the power (called autocracies), repression stops people from supporting groups against the government.
This control can show up in many ways, like:
- Breaking human rights (basic rights everyone should have).
- Secretly watching people (surveillance abuse).
- Police using too much force (police brutality).
- Putting people in prison.
- Forcing people to move from their homes.
- Taking away a person's rights as a citizen.
- Using violence or terror, like killing, torture, or making people disappear. This often targets political activists or people who speak out.
Sometimes, repression is very clear, like direct arrests. Other times, it's hidden, like secret wiretaps. Clear actions can make people react, while hidden ones might make people use secret ways to oppose the government. Repression can also be supported by how media is controlled or when people censor themselves.
When a government officially plans and carries out political repression, it can be called state terrorism, genocide, or crimes against humanity. This kind of systematic and violent repression is common in dictatorships and totalitarian states. Even in countries considered democratic, some government groups might use repression. Examples include the FBI's COINTELPRO operations (1956-1971) and the Palmer Raids (1919-1920) in the United States.
In some countries, "repression" was an official term. For example, the Soviet Union had laws about repressing political opposition. Cuba under Fulgencio Batista had a secret police group called the "Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities."
Contents
How Political Conflict Leads to Repression
When there is political conflict, governments are much more likely to use repression. This is a very strong pattern seen in studies about political repression.
Civil Wars and Government Response
Civil wars and other challenges from groups not in the government often lead to repressive actions. Governments frequently use repression during civil conflicts. This relationship is sometimes called the "Law of Coercive Responsiveness." When a government's power is threatened, it tries to stop those who disagree, either openly or secretly.
Effects on People's Actions
Repression affects how people who disagree with the government act. Some evidence shows that repression can stop people from organizing. However, it can also make more people join the opposition. This happens if people see the repression as a new reason to protest against the government.
Intolerance and Repression
Political repression often comes with intolerance. This means the government does not accept different ideas or groups.
Ways Intolerance Shows Up
Intolerance can be seen through:
- Policies that treat groups unfairly.
- Breaking human rights.
- Police brutality.
- Putting people in prison.
- Killing large groups of people (Genocide).
- Forcing people to leave their country (exile).
- Taking money or property by force (extortion).
- Using terror.
- Killing people without a trial.
- Torture.
- Making people disappear.
These actions are used against political activists, people who speak out, and the general public.
State Terrorism Explained
When a government officially supports and organizes political repression, it can lead to very serious situations. These include state terrorism, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
Repression in Dictatorships
Systematic and violent political repression is a common feature of dictatorships and totalitarian governments. In these types of governments, repression can be carried out by:
- The police and secret police.
- The army.
- Groups that act like the army but are not official (paramilitary groups).
- Secret groups that kill people (death squads).
Sometimes, even democratic governments might use political repression or state terrorism against other countries as part of their security plans.
Different Kinds of Repression
There are two main ways governments use repression: direct and indirect.
Direct Repression
Direct repression is when the government clearly targets someone who opposes them with obvious violent actions. The person being targeted knows they are being harmed. This can happen within a country or even across borders. In dictatorships where one leader has all the power, it's more common for them to start conflicts with other countries. This is because they don't have to answer to anyone through elections.
Indirect Repression
Indirect repression uses the threat of violence. This includes things like:
- Harassment.
- Intimidation.
- Creating official obstacles that make things difficult for people.
These tactics are usually not violent, but they are still designed to control citizens.
How Repression Works and Monitoring People
People who are indirectly affected by repression often report trusting the leader and ruling party more. This was seen in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe. The effects of repression grew stronger as elections got closer, even when the country's economy was getting worse.
Signs of Successful Repression
A big sign that repression is working is when people pretend to agree with the government in public, even if they don't privately. This is called preference falsification. In North Korea, which is known for very strong repression, 100% of citizens vote in "no choice" elections. This helps the government find anyone who might not be loyal. Citizens must show complete loyalty to North Korea's leader. If they speak out, they risk prison camps, torture, forced labor, and even execution.
See also
In Spanish: Represión política para niños
- Authoritarianism
- Autocracy
- Dictatorship
- Police state
- Political prisoner
- Political violence
- Religious persecution
- State terrorism
- Totalitarianism
