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0 pointsTade05y ago0 comments

That's about the worst idea possible. Many people work in neighbouring countries and cross the border regularly to see their families.

Such a move would affect them the most.

0 comments

7 comments · 3 top-level

rebuilder5y ago· 4 in thread

That's the point, to rile up the population so much that the regime must either cave to whatever is being demanded of them or face an uprising.

Will it work? Very iffy - often the only thing worse than an autocratic regime is whatever fills the power vacuum its fall creates. Disorderly transfers of power are bad business.

monoideism5y ago

Belarussian population has been admirably fired up for quite some time. There have been multiple uprisings.

But when they're up against armed militia and police, they can't do much (this is why so many Americans are adamant about the 1st Amendment).

Targeted sanctions are the only ethical option at this point. Don't make the population suffer like we did for Iraq.

ivan_gammel5y ago

People of Belarus had enough arms in hands to start armed uprising. It was their deliberate choice to refrain from violence.

1 more reply

Jeff_Brown5y ago

It's easy to call for a Hail Mary strategy from afar. Protest is becoming more common[1], but protests that successfully topple regimes remain rare.

I could swear I saw recent research indicating that the fraction of protest movements that lead to regime change has fallen over time, but I can't find it now.

[1] https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/03/10/politica...

rebuilder5y ago

I don't mean to call for anything, just pointing out that sanctions mainly hurting the population may be the intended effect.

1 more reply

michaelmrose5y ago

Ultimately it's the people's responsibility to form a functional government that doesn't abuse it's neighbors or fellow citizens. Punishing the entire country is punishing the responsible party. If they have little power at this point to fix it at this point it's their fault for arriving at this point and they may need to pay the long term cost in blood for letting it get that bad.

varispeed5y ago

Isn't the regime a responsibility of the society? I think people should bear the consequences of the regime they decided to keep having.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

7 comments · 3 top-level

rebuilder5y ago· 4 in thread

That's the point, to rile up the population so much that the regime must either cave to whatever is being demanded of them or face an uprising.

Will it work? Very iffy - often the only thing worse than an autocratic regime is whatever fills the power vacuum its fall creates. Disorderly transfers of power are bad business.

monoideism5y ago

Belarussian population has been admirably fired up for quite some time. There have been multiple uprisings.

But when they're up against armed militia and police, they can't do much (this is why so many Americans are adamant about the 1st Amendment).

Targeted sanctions are the only ethical option at this point. Don't make the population suffer like we did for Iraq.

ivan_gammel5y ago

People of Belarus had enough arms in hands to start armed uprising. It was their deliberate choice to refrain from violence.

1 more reply

Jeff_Brown5y ago

It's easy to call for a Hail Mary strategy from afar. Protest is becoming more common[1], but protests that successfully topple regimes remain rare.

I could swear I saw recent research indicating that the fraction of protest movements that lead to regime change has fallen over time, but I can't find it now.

[1] https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/03/10/politica...

rebuilder5y ago

I don't mean to call for anything, just pointing out that sanctions mainly hurting the population may be the intended effect.

1 more reply

michaelmrose5y ago

varispeed5y ago

Isn't the regime a responsibility of the society? I think people should bear the consequences of the regime they decided to keep having.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse