Conclusion

can dissidentism explain post-dissident politics?

Amy E. Varela

pp. 207-229

in: Kacper Szulecki, Dissidents in communist central Europe, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019

Abstract

The chapter sums up the book's empirical findings and proposes an ideal-typical model of transnational dissidentism and the emergence of new transnational actors—a "dissident triangle." It is composed of open, nonviolent political dissent, domestic renown, and notoriety amplified by domestic official and unofficial media and transnational channels of communication, as well as international attention and recognition. Showing the peculiarity of the dissidents' empowerment—which relied much more on transnational networks than domestic rooting—I try to explain post-dissident politics and the apparent backlash against former prominent dissidents visible across Central Europe, and contributing to the evident rise of illiberalism and democratic backsliding.