3 - Accommodating Informal Norms in Regime-Engaging Protests

Summary

Based on in-depth ethnographic research, Chapter 3 elaborates what accommodating informal norms are in place, how and why they are created, situations when they fail to work, and the impact of these norms on regime stability. The analysis is based on case studies of three regime-engaging economic protests. In these struggles, the government frequently acquiesced to actions such as illicit petitions and demonstrations, leading to an extralegal space for protest; meanwhile, aggrieved citizens endeavored to discipline themselves while pushing the envelope. The chapter delves into the interactive role that various actors, from top-down to bottom-up, play in determining the emergence and functioning of the unwritten rules, and it also illustrates the diverse forms of coercion employed to curb resistance in an illiberal state. Through functioning as a social safety valve, channeling street protests to the negotiation table, and promoting self-discipline among aggrieved citizens, accommodating informal norms have a beneficial effect on alleviating conflict, on managing contention, and ultimately on enhancing regime resilience.