Explains the forms of the Russian post-2022 anti-war dissent.

What is it about?

Building on the experience of Russian antiwar emigration in 2022, this article reinterprets the categories of “exit” and “voice” to better understand dissent under repressive political regimes. It argues that exit can function as a form of voice in contexts where other forms of voicing discontent are effectively eliminated by repression. This perspective on exit opens the category of voice to a normative conceptualization, defining it as an expression of civic identity. Acting on this identity in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine leads dissenting citizens either into self-imposed exile or inner exile. The article identifies three key modalities of voice available to dissenting citizens: exit-as-voice, voice-after-exit, and oblique voice. In all these modalities, voice is primarily performative, shaped by the political and ethical constraints that emerge from the interplay between repression and resistance. The article draws on an autoethnography of exit within Russian academia and on accounts of resistance both inside and outside Russia.

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Photo by Pyae Sone Htun on Unsplash

Photo by Pyae Sone Htun on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The article demonstrates that dissent is possible even under the most oppressive authoritarian/dictatorial regimes. It also suggests that emigration could be an important political act, fostering political identities and communities both at home and in exile.

Perspectives