How To Be an Effective Dissident

By definition, a dissident disagrees with an established political or belief system. Try to present positive alternatives, and make sure your argument is informed by the specifics of your local situation.

Look to historical role models. Study the methods of famous dissidents like Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, and Aung San Suu Kyi.

Document all human-rights violations and other abuses. Factual, provable information can help your cause.

Figure out your outreach strategy: The more people hear your message, the more influential you’ll be. Contact the media—print, radio, television, online—whenever possible to tell your story.

Seek out influential alliances—human-rights foundations, opposition groups, writers, and religious leaders—who can lend legitimacy, advice, and moral gravity. Certain organizations—and even some democratic governments—may offer funding for your efforts, or legal representation, if necessary.

Fellow countrymen and women living abroad either in exile or by choice may be able to publicize your cause internationally. They are also a possible source of funding.

In repressive societies, always assume someone is listening. Avoid delicate conversations in your home and on the phone due to the possibility of bugs and wiretaps. Use disposable cell phones and change them every month or so.

The regime you’re opposing may attempt to provoke you into violence. Do not give in! You’ll gain more respect, and in the end be more effective by keeping your dissent nonviolent.

Being a dissident takes courage. Never lose faith in the justice of your actions.