Abstract
Political scientists and theorists have generally approached silence in one of two broad ways. Some have envisioned silence as representing apathy, indifference, ignorance, or general acceptance of the status quo. Alternatively, others have theorized silence as evidence of the workings of power—the phenomenon of “being silenced.” Neither approach has explored the ways that silence might be mobilized and practiced democratically. Instead of organizing democratic theory and politics exclusively around the power of speech, it might be useful to explore the promise of silence as a practice of resistance and empowerment in a garrulous world. This article puts forth four “insubordinate silences” that attempt to empower, protest, resist, and refuse. These silences challenge us to think in new ways about democracy, speech, silence, and participation.
