Suppression of Dissent: What It Is and What to Do About It

Authors

  • Brian Martin University of Wollongong

Abstract

Critics of powerful individuals or systems are sometimes suppressed: they are attacked using various methods such as censorship, reprimands or dismissal. Suppression can cause major losses for society, for example when dangerous activities continue because criticism is squelched or inhibited. There are various ways to respond to suppression, including doing nothing, using informal methods, using formal methods, promoting legal protection, gaining support from unions and other organisations, and mounting publicity campaigns. Acting against suppression is important to protect dissenters and to help create a society in which dissent is welcome. Key words: dissent; suppression; censorship

Author Biography

Brian Martin, University of Wollongong

PA Physical Anthropology MA Social Medicine PhD Sociocultural Anthropology Full time professor. Research area: Health and society, Graduate Program in Physical Anthropology, National School of Anthropology and History. Member of the Promoting Group of ALAMES in Mexico.

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Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2012): Suppression and Mobbing: Socio-medicine Perspectives. Editors: Brian Martin, Florencia Peña

Section

Classics in Social Medicine

License

Unless otherwise stated, materials published by Social Medicine are governed by a Creative Commons Agreement which allows non-commercial, attributed use of unaltered materials (see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/).