How to Push Back Against Backsliders: Repression and radicalisation in Southeast Asia

In today’s world, often described as going through a ‘wave of increasing authoritarianism’, opposition activists are frequently told that making bold or radical demands could backfire and actually strengthen those in power. The safer approach, they’re told, is to stay moderate and avoid giving governments an excuse to crack down. But recent events, from Minneapolis to Dhaka, suggest something more complicated: when governments repress dissent, it can actually push movements to become more radical, which can lead to stronger resistance. In Southeast Asia, even though democracy has been declining, there are still six countries where elections are somewhat competitive, and civil society has some room to operate. In these places, more confrontational or ‘radical’ movements are sometimes blamed