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Cited by 138Political Conflict and GovernanceSocial Movements and Cultural IdentityPolitical Theory and Democracy

Limiting Dissent: The Mechanisms of State Repression in the USA

BOYKOFF, JULES·2007·Social Movement Studies
DOI 10.1080/14742830701666988
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Abstract

Despite longstanding traditions of tolerance, inclusion, and democracy in the USA, dissident citizens and social movements have experienced significant and sustained – although often subtle and difficult-to-observe – repression. Using mechanism-based social movement theory, I explore a range of twentieth-century episodes of contention, involving such groups as mid-century communists, the Black Panther Party, the American Indian Movement, and the modern-day Global Justice Movement. Cracking open the black box of state repression, I demonstrate how four interactive social mechanisms – Resource Depletion, Stigmatization, Divisive Disruption, and Intimidation – animate state repression. A fifth mechanism – Emulation – diffuses the effects of these four Mechanisms of Repression. First I delineate a typology of state actions that suppress dissent. Then I shift analytically from these ten actions to the Mechanisms of Repression, explaining how these mechanisms work. Drawing on scholarship from an array of fields, and pulling data from a variety of sources, I explain how the state has engaged in activity that – operating through social mechanisms – inhibits collective action, either through raising the costs or minimizing the benefits of mobilization.

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  • Media may play a larger role in conventional repression than Earl's typology recognized.

    “Subsequent research has also shown that media may play a larger role in conventional repression than the typology recognized (23).”

    From Physical and virtual repertoires of contention (2022) · cites this paper as [23]

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Authors
BOYKOFF, J.
Affiliations
Pacific University Oregon (US)
Corresponding author
BOYKOFF, JULES
ORCID
BOYKOFF, JULES
Venue
Social Movement Studies
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2007-11-22
Volume
6
Issue
3
Pages
281-310
ISSN
  • 1474-2829 (ISSN-L)
  • 1474-2837
DOI
10.1080/14742830701666988
OpenAlex
W2099493475
Cited by
138
References
123
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
FWCI
3.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Social movement studies (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Political Conflict and Governance
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Movements and Cultural Identity
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
Keywords
state repression, dissent, social movement theory, resource depletion, stigmatization, intimidation, emulation, collective action, Black Panther Party, American Indian Movement, alter-globalization, civil liberties, United States

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