State Repression and Human Rights

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

The field of repression and human rights has garnered considerable attention from scholars for decades, yet there remains some significant gaps in our understanding of the dynamics. Notably, certain repressive agents and methods—particularly those that are unconventional or less visible — remain understudied. This panel seeks to deepen our knowledge of state repression and human rights violations by shedding light on the less explored tactics and agents. The contributing authors explore a range of topics: the human rights abuses perpetrated by governments under the disguise of counter-terrorism initiatives (Cordell), the repression of diaspora dissent communities through international alliances and covert security operations abroad (Liu and Peldon), and the internal bureaucratic politics that influence the granting or denial of protest permits by repressive agents (Ritter and Tertychnaya). Furthermore, the discussions unpack the roles of overlooked repressive actors within the security apparatus, assessing how security entrepreneurs garner public endorsement (Edwards and Arnon), and study the varied responses of security forces—sometimes opting to enforce repression, while at other times choosing to defy orders and instigate coups (Gläßel and Scharpf). Collectively, the papers presented at this panel reveal novel avenues for investigating the mechanisms of human rights violations and repression, both domestically and internationally.

Sub Unit

• Division 45: Human Rights

Individual Presentations

• Dictators' Global Hunt for Overseas Dissent and Transnational Repression - Howard Liu, University of South Carolina; Deki Peldon, University of South Carolina

• Framing Human Rights Violations in the Name of Counter-Terrorism - Rebecca Elizabeth Cordell, University of Pittsburgh

• Describing and Analyzing Elite Advocates of State Coercion - Pearce Edwards, Louisiana State University; Daniel Arnon, University of Arizona

• Making Career in Dictatorship: The Secret Logic behind Coups and Repression - Christian Gläßel, Hertie School Berlin; Adam Scharpf, University of Copenhagen

• A Model and Evidence of Bureaucratic Repression in Russia - Emily Hencken Ritter, Vanderbilt University; Katerina Tertytchnaya, University of Oxford

Chair

• Courtenay R. Monroe University of California, Merced

Discussants

• K. Chad Clay University of Georgia

• Courtenay R. Monroe University of California, Merced