Dissidents are dissidents. Under the USSR, such citizens were persecuted, arrested en masse, or underwent treatment in psychiatric clinics. Today the word "opposition" is applied to dissidents.
Dissident is a word that comes from Latin. At first, they were called people who do not follow or completely reject the dogmas of the dominant religion in the country. Today, it is understood as a person opposing the existing state system.
The emergence of dissidence
For the first time, the direction arose in the Middle Ages, when the authority of the Catholic Church was questioned. At the same time, many began to take a great interest in Protestantism. For example, in England, which was characterized by the ministry of the Anglican Church, the transition of people to Puritanism was quickly formed. Such citizens began to be called dissidents.
The word gained the greatest popularity during the Soviet era. Not the entire population was content with power. Those who did not support the political views of those around them and the current ruling forces began to be called that word. Political dissidents:
- openly stated their point of view;
- united in underground organizations;
- conducted their own anti-government activities.
Since such people gave the government a lot of worries, it fought them in every possible way. Dissenting citizens were sent into exile and shot. However, the "underground" of those who had renounced the state standing continued only until the 1950s. Until the 1980s, the dissident movement began to dominate the public arena.
Among the participants in the movement were citizens of completely different views. They were united by their desire to openly express their point of view. Under the USSR, not a single official could afford it. However, there was no single organization in the country. Therefore, many political scientists say that the direction was more likely psychological, rather than social. The dissidents were joined by:
- scientists;
- artists;
- writers;
- specialists in various fields.
Closer to the 70s of the last century, dissidents began to be accused of having mental disorders. People became recognized as dangerous to society, so they were forced into hospitals. Those who lived by different rules were accused of acts of terrorism.
Wikipedia emphasizes that the KGB took various actions aimed at forcing dissidents to speak publicly. Thanks to such actions, it was possible to achieve mitigation of punishment.
Notable dissidents
One of the most famous participants in the movement was A. I. Solzhenitsyn. He actively opposed the Soviet system and government. During World War II, he went to the front, attained the rank of captain. In his free time, he was in active correspondence with a comrade, in which he criticized the actions of I. V. Stalin. He compared his regime to serfdom. Employees of special units became interested in these letters. During the investigation, Solzhenitsyn lost his military rank and was arrested. He has been imprisoned for 8 years.
Hockey player Alexander Mogilny was also ranked among the dissidents. He was considered one of the best young players in the late 1980s. He left unexpectedly for Stockholm, where he received a second citizenship. Because of his escape to the USSR, a criminal case was opened against him. This made it possible for Alexander Mogilny to obtain the status of a political refugee.
The dissidents included:
- Andrey Sakharov;
- Elena Boner;
- Vladimir Bukovsky;
- Pavel Litvinov and other well-known personalities in the USSR.
Dissidents in modern Russia
Boris Nemtsov said that under pressure from the authorities, oppositionists become dissidents. Unlike the opposition, they will never be able to win elections, because the latter simply ceased to exist as a powerful institution.
Today, this direction can be attributed to individual representatives of the ruling elite, acting in confrontation with the current government. In addition, anyone who criticizes politics and non-conformist groups is called dissidents today. Politicians with alternatives to state development programs may adhere to the latter.
If earlier dissenting writers published their works only in other states, today literature is in the public domain. Almost any person can get admission to it without any persecution from the state. Whole parties are being formed, campaigns are being conducted that oppose the current government