Dissident
A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively opposes an established opinion, policy, or structure. The term is most often used to refer to political dissidents, usually against authoritarian regimes (although there are rare uses of the phrase philosophical dissident). Political dissidents usually use non-violent means of political dissent, including voicing criticism of the government, but dissidents can also attempt to displace or overthrow the established government by achieving popular support and sparking a revolution or rebellion. In totalitarian regimes these dissidents are often punished with lengthy prison sentences, execution or economic deprivation. It has been widely alleged that the USSR and China used or use involuntary commitment against dissidents.
Related Topics:
Authoritarian - Political dissent - Government - Revolution - Rebellion - Totalitarian - Execution - USSR - China - Involuntary commitment
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Similarly, social dissidents openly oppose dominant social attitudes. In democratic societies political and social dissidents are supposed to be free from government pressure, but there have been notable instances of persecution, such as during the Palmer Raids.
Related Topics:
Democratic - Palmer Raids
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Militant dissidents are usually in the form of armed paramilitary groups whose aim is usually to overthrow a government or regime, or otherwise impose changes on the established order. Since militant dissidents are almost always militarily disadvantaged compared to the ruling power, such groups usually resort to asymmetric warfare, guerilla warfare, or in some cases, terrorism, to further their cause. Such groups are often denounced as terrorists by the ruling power regardless, though they often consider themselves freedom fighters or resistance movements.
Related Topics:
Paramilitary - Asymmetric warfare - Guerilla warfare - Terrorism - Freedom fighters - Resistance movements
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~ Table of Content ~
| ► | Introduction |
| ► | Soviet dissidents |
| ► | Noted dissidents |
| ► | See also |
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Latest news on dissident
Woman told of dissident threat
A Londonderry woman is told her life is under threat from dissident republicans who mistakenly believe she is in the police.
Paisley defends lethal force call
Ian Paisley Junior explains comments in which he called for dissident republicans to be shot on sight.
With Attention on Olympics, Dissident Goes Missing in China
Missing dissidents and arrests have gone largely uncovered during Olympic games.
'Solzhenitsyn Street' ousts communist name in Moscow
A Moscow street will be named after the celebrated Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
Belarus dissident leaves prison
The former Belarussian opposition leader Alexander Kozulin, jailed since 2006, leaves prison, his daughter says.
Syrian dissident economist freed
Syrian dissident economist Aref Dalila is freed by the authorities after serving nearly seven years in jail.
Farewell to Solzhenitsyn
Multimedia: Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin attend dissident writer's funeral
Solzhenitsyn is buried in Moscow
The body of Russian writer and dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, chronicler of Soviet brutality, is laid to rest.
Shareholders Back Yahoo Board
A deal to placate dissident activist Carl Icahn cooled down the annual shareholders' meeting considerably. Icahn will join the board soon and will also get two of his business pals to join him on the board in an effort to change the way the struggling media company does business. - SAN JOSE, Calif. What could have been a nasty Yahoo shareholder uprising if activist billionaire shareholder Carl Icahn had been present actually turned out to be a rather docile gathering of business folks Aug. 1 at the company's annual conference at the Fairmont Hotel. At least that's the w...
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