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Palgrave Dictionary of Public Order Policing, Protest and Political Violence

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Abstract

Self-immolation entails a protester setting himself or herself on fire. It is a form of non-violent direct action, the intention of which is to make public an injustice experienced directly by the protester that is symptomatic of a more general problem experienced within society or to promote a collective cause that the protester supports. The protester becomes a martyr and his or her act is designed to inspire others to protest in support of the issues that inspired the protester to die. It has been argued that: ‘As an act of protest, it is intended to be public in at least one of two senses: performed in a public place in view of other people, or accompanied by a written letter addressed to political figures or to the general public’ (Biggs, 2005).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

    Peter Joyce

  2. University of Cambridge, UK

    Neil Wain

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  1. Peter Joyce
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  2. Neil Wain
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© 2014 Peter Joyce and Neil Wain

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Joyce, P., Wain, N. (2014). S. In: Palgrave Dictionary of Public Order Policing, Protest and Political Violence. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137270085_17

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