Political Dissidence in America in 2022

The Power of the Powerless, Part I

Political Dissidence in America in 2022

[This is the first in a series of articles on The Power of the Powerless, the incredibly insightful and still extremely relevant essay by Václav Havel about the nature of political power and dissidence under communism. In this series, I will analyze the themes of Havel’s essay and how they apply to our own current context in America.]

What is the state of dissidence in America in 2022? How much faith do would-be reformers have in the political process or the judicial system? When citizens petition their leaders for redress of grievances, do they feel heard? And if the people feel like there is no legitimate outlet within the system for their concerns, where will that sentiment lead?

I recently read The Power of the Powerless by the Czech writer and political leader Václav Havel, which he wrote in 1978 about political dissidence in the Soviet bloc. The essay is incisive and thought-provoking: first, because of what we now know came later with the co…