Strategies of Resistance to Civil Liberties Restrictions: A Grounded Theory Study of Activist Communities

Abstract

This study aimed to explore and theorize the strategies employed by activist communities in Tehran to resist and navigate restrictions on civil liberties imposed by the state. This qualitative study utilized a grounded theory approach to uncover patterns of resistance among activist groups operating in a politically restrictive environment. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 23 participants from various activist backgrounds, including digital rights, student movements, environmental advocacy, and gender equality. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling and resided in Tehran. Interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was reached and were subsequently transcribed and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding in NVivo software. The analysis revealed three major themes comprising a variety of resistance strategies: (1) adaptive tactics in repressive contexts, including coded communication, spatial reconfiguration, legal loopholing, and platform switching; (2) collective empowerment and identity, encompassing shared political consciousness, ritualized resistance, emotional support systems, and identity fusion; and (3) strategic disengagement and risk buffering, such as digital silence, role rotation, controlled visibility, and family shielding. These strategies reflect a hybrid form of resistance that spans both physical and digital domains, blending proactive action with protective withdrawal. Activist communities in Tehran engage in a dynamic and multidimensional repertoire of resistance strategies that are contextually embedded, emotionally grounded, and technologically adaptive. The study extends existing theories of resistance by emphasizing the role of covert tactics, emotional labor, and flexible engagement in sustaining activism under authoritarian constraints. These findings have important implications for supporting civic actors in repressive regimes through context-sensitive interventions and policy reforms.