Het politieke protest

Abstract

In every community people are continually subjected to political power. This leads to counter-forces, which differ in quantity and quality. One of these counterforces — political protest — differs in several respects from opposition and rebellion. Opposition and protest are both directed against the government and governmental policy, but not against the regime, as is the case with rebellion. Both are non-violent, while violence is an important element in a rebellion. Opposition takes place according to carefully prescribed rules while political protest does not make use of the existing institutional channels. Though often strongly expressed, opposition can always be seen as a form of cooperation, political protest is obstruction, breaking laws and regulations in order to provoke the authorities to actions (even the use of violence) which will give the protests greater publicity and discredit the opponents. Opposition is directed against the entire governmental policy; political protest is directed against one or several parts of that policy. However, the protest can be a tactical means of a wider activity, which does intend to undermine and eventually to overthrow the existing regime. The effectiveness of political decisions is based on the degree to which relevant reactions to these decisions are foreseen. By smothering or ignoring these reactions the effectiveness or authority is promoted only in appearance. The stability of a political system is based on the degree to which that system is able to register and digest dissatisfaction and renew impulses. In view of those considerations political protest should be seen as a constructive element for the very reason that it operates outside the institutionalized channels. The official political institutions are created and manned by the establishment; they may sincerely strive for legality and fairness, but in social and political aspects they are not unbiased. Political protest creates an outlet for criticism, which prevents an accumulation of sentiments of dissatisfaction; it provides the authorities with more extensive information about resistances within the population than the constitutional institutions can offer; it provides the citizen with a possibility for greater variance in his political behavior than would be possible otherwise. Political protests and the freedom of demonstration which is needed for it, should be hindered as little as possible.