Silence as Political Critique: Silent Strikes in Myanmar

As lethal repression increased after the 2021 coup, Burmese activists began to call for silent strike action. Gandhian-inspired dead town tactics entered Myanmar’s contentious repertoire during the late colonial era but were replaced with other repertoires after independence. Drawing on field interviews with activists, media coverage, and research into colonial archives, this paper seeks to contribute to a richer conceptualization of the use of silence as a tool for protest. It does so in three distinct ways. First, it considers silent strikes as a political critique grounded on the performative power of silence. Anti-coup activists have politicized silence to articulate a collective and public critique of the new junta. Second, it treats dead town tactics as a means for demonstrating movement power. By shutting down entire downtown areas, activists in an asymmetric position vis-à-vis a brutal opponent have sought to display their strength and reveal the extent of their control over local communities and structures. Third, it regards silent strikes as a pledge of allegiance. The performance of dissent behind closed doors, yet still in a visible way, allows ordinary citizens without the biographical availability or courage needed to engage in direct action to still participate and show their adhesion to the cause. However, silent strikes have proved controversial. The paper concludes with some observations as to why such repertoire has struggled to shape the resistance against the junta since 2021.