In a police state, which is a government’s systematic, pervasive surveillance and repression of citizens who oppose an authoritarian ruler, it’s as important to know what you should do as what you shouldn’t do. Of course, the autocrat insists on everyone’s complete obedience to his or her goals, objectives and whims. Beyond that acquiescence, the person and agents who control a police state want to instill fear and intimidation. And “true believers” who support the autocrat can expect rewards, which means informants who snitch on opponents of the regime can be highly motivated.
The following recommendations are drawn from the experiences of early associates of The Guard Rail Society living or working under police state regimes in Idi Amin’s Uganda, apartheid South Africa, Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1960s and 70s and the ongoing ayatollah theocracy of Iran.
- Defy the autocrat. Don’t cave to intimidation. That just makes them stronger, seeing their success.
- Don’t compromise other resistors. Be careful with digital communications such as cell phones and email messages. Communicate in person if possible.
- Paranoia can paralyze, so continue active resistance while being careful.
- Being ineffective is no protection, so be effective. Just because you feel you aren’t a real threat to the autocrat, that doesn’t mean the police state regime won’t try to repress you, intimidate you. Be creative, change tactics and venues.
- Economic boycotts can be crucial. Collaborators can be shown there’s a serious down-side to supporting the autocrat.
- Remember: the good guys eventually win! Examples of successful resistance to police state authoritarians are: Nelson Mandela in South Africa, Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva in Brazil, and Gabriel Boric in Chile.
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DISCLAIMER:
MEMBERSHIP OR AFFILIATION CONFIDENTIAL: No roster of Guard Rail Society members or affiliating individuals is maintained. Steps have been taken to maintain confidentiality of participants, given some citizens’ reasonable concerns about retaliation despite Constitutional protections. Participants’ experience derives from life in China, Iran and Venezuela, among other known centers of police state repression.