“Toys of desperation” suicide as protest rhetoric

Protest Suicide: A Systematic Model with Heuristic Archetypes

“…The object of protest suicide, according to Jorgensen‐Earp (: 90), is almost always an authoritative body—usually a political authority—regarded as an oppressive force that must be coerced or persuaded to reform its oppressive policies and practices. Simply, Oppressive Force generates a reason for Protest Suicide that is intended to change oppressive policies or practices.…”

“…Rather, the mass communications media has increasingly taken on importance in the contemporary world as the purveyors of such acts to an attentive global general public. It has been noted that “non‐verbal dissent” has increased over the past century (Jorgensen‐Earp, : 181), and the rise of the media as a locus of political influence, especially given the visual impact of television and the new electronic media, plays a role here. Thus, the media become another primary target for protest suicide.…”

“…Active and passive reform supporters and sympathizers, who evidence varying degrees of commitment to the reform cause, can also be a target for protest suicide. It has been proposed that protest suicide may be directed at stimulating the commitment of those in ethnic, religious or special interest communities—the broader reform movements that may, indeed, be the target for oppression—to join a protest group, so as to “rally those within the movement” to greater protest action (Jorgensen‐Earp, : 87). This pressure may well be direct, particularly in cases of armed struggle designed to overthrow and replace the oppressive force, but it may also be indirect, mediated by the media.…”

“…Therefore, actors desiring some political end will attempt to secure such by conventional, mildly costly action and, if the desired results do not materialize, increase the level of unconventionality and costs over time. Thus, it has been proposed that protest suicide will occur after a relatively long period of less costly actions all of which have proved unsuccessful (Jorgensen‐Earp, : 86). Additionally, a long effort to persuade or coerce an oppressive force to reform that produces no discernable or acceptable result heightens frustration and aggression, two mediating variables commonly employed to explain protest actions in general (see, for example, Feierabend, Feierabend, & Gurr, ), and suicide in particular (Henry & Short, ; Stengel & Cook ; Jorgensen‐Earp, ; Manabe ).…”

“…Thus, it has been proposed that protest suicide will occur after a relatively long period of less costly actions all of which have proved unsuccessful (Jorgensen‐Earp, : 86). Additionally, a long effort to persuade or coerce an oppressive force to reform that produces no discernable or acceptable result heightens frustration and aggression, two mediating variables commonly employed to explain protest actions in general (see, for example, Feierabend, Feierabend, & Gurr, ), and suicide in particular (Henry & Short, ; Stengel & Cook ; Jorgensen‐Earp, ; Manabe ). Thus, the Duration of the failure to change the Oppressive Force results in heightened Aggression and Frustration, which give rise to stronger reasons for Protest Suicide.…”