Radovan Gura
Upálenie sa ako politický protest
(Self-immolation as a political protest)
Politické vedy, Volume 24, Number 1/2021, pages 95-112
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24040/politickevedy.2021.24.1.95-112
Recommended form for quotation of the article / Odporúčaná forma citácie článku:
Radovan Gura. 2021. Upálenie sa ako politický protest. In Politické Vedy. [online]. Vol. 24, No. 1, 2021. ISSN 1335 – 2741, pp. 95-112. Available at: DOI: https://doi.org/10.24040/politickevedy.2021.24.1.95-112
ABSTRACT
Fundamentally, self-immolation is an ancient practice. Despite this cultural and historical humankind experience, every new case of self-immolation for political reasons is an appalling piece of information to us. In this paper, we examine, present and reflect on self-immolation as a form of suicide, on its causes and consequences in selected cases that we register in international relations. The aim of this study is to assess the self-immolation as a politically motivated act. We conclude that the aim of the self-immolation act as a political protest is, on the one hand, to point out, condemn, punish political authority, express the will to initiate political change or to express political guilt by one's own death. On the other hand, these actions are not automatically linked to the intention to mobilize for a collective response.
Key words: self-immolation, political protest, Mohammed Bouazizi, Jan Palach, Prague Spring, Arab Spring