Publication at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Social Sciences |
2014
Abstract
The manner in which mass loyalty in socialist and other post-totalitarian societies is maintained is still a matter of discussion. To contribute to the debate this article studies strategies of discontent in late Czech socialism as described in oral history narratives of three groups of narrators (communist functionaries, dissidents and ordinary people).
Drawing on a modified version of Hirsch's exit-voice-loyalty model, the study reveals an important characteristic of the expression of discontent in this post-totalitarian society - the strategic distinction between political and non-political behaviour. Labelling discontent as either a political or non-political matter was a key trait of power plays.