Dissent is seen as an important aspect of Democracy ensuring diverse opinions are heard, considered and included in the interest of fair governance. However, in the absence of such provisions, we see resistance. The word ‘Resistance’ implies polarisation, a clear tension between at least two major opposing groups dissenting against harm caused by injustices such as inequity, invalidation, indifference, neglect or willful exclusion.
Resistance is an appeal for introspective systemic change. It is seen as civil disobedience activities, non-participation, demonstrations, strikes, marches, peaceful protests, sit-ins, talks, subversive publications, performances etc. However, when met with forceful suppression or outright rejection without fair hearing, resistance groups get more agitated, susceptible to manipulations by other self-serving opportunistic political forces and possibly even prone to violent escalation like vandalism, mob attacks, riots, battles or wars. Outward resistances such as these, are in fact, counter-stances to a form of inner resistance that inhabits systemic power structures, governed by authority figures and their psychological and ideological dispositions.
Conventionally, counter resistances carry negative emotionality stemming from aggrievement, disappointment, anguish, severe annoyance, hate and anger; along with a tone of blaming and/or shaming authorities. If the positionally powerful systemic actors are psychologically maladapted then they respond to resistance movements by further strengthening their superiority as a form of defense and self preservation. Not only are inner resistances causing outward oppression, but outward counter resistances that target authorities are also in return cementing the inner resistant states, rendering such activities to be counter productive in seeking meaningful change. Quoting Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung, as he writes in his book, 'Modern Man in Search of a Soul' (Chapter 11, Pg. 234-235):
"We cannot change anything unless we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses. I am the oppressor of the person I condemn, not his friend and fellow-sufferer."
How might acceptance help release inner resistances to change and thereby suffering? Can dissent be better addressed through strategic institutional interventions? ‘Collective Wellbeing Coinnovations' is a 90 minutes online workshop designed to facilitate creative counter stance scenario building. Grounded in the awareness of psychological vulnerabilities shared by all actors, irrespective of systemic power differences, dialogic and dialectical explorations aim to deepen the understanding of challenges in democratic governance. The online workshop will be run on Zoom or MS Teams along with presentation and additional link to online documentation tools such as Google docs, Figma and mentimetre.