Contentious Politics · Single Player Strategy Game
The Repression Trap
You are the movement strategist. Your job is to build pressure, keep discipline, and avoid the state’s favorite excuse: “They are dangerous, so we had no choice.”
Start here
You are advising a protest movement in an authoritarian country. You need to win concessions without giving the government an easy excuse to crush the movement.
The government arrested three student organizers after a peaceful campus meeting. Your demand is simple: release them and allow independent student and worker associations.
How you win
Think of the four numbers as meters. Two help you win. Two can destroy you.
First avoid losing: Discipline at 0 means the movement falls apart. Repression Risk at 7 or higher means the government cracks down.
Then check victory: Public Support 6+ and Regime Cracks 2+ means you win concessions.
The trap: some actions feel strong in the moment, but they help the state say, “See? They are dangerous.”
Round 1: Your first tactic
People are angry, but scared. Choose one tactic and explain why it is the best first move.
Event 1: State media attack
“These so-called students are foreign-funded criminals trying to destabilize our country.”
Your Event 1 effect will appear here.
Round 2: Your second tactic
The movement has attention now. Do you broaden support, increase pressure, disrupt, or stay disciplined?
Event 2: The rock-throwing problem
At a march, a small group of masked participants throws rocks at police. State TV loops the footage all day.
This is the trap. Choose how the movement responds to the crisis.