2.1 Mimicking the oppressor
There is a danger that when resisting groups grow and experience success, they can begin to adopt some of the harmful practices of those they initially resisted (Collinson et al., 2018). There are many ways in which this can happen but some of the most common are shown below.
| HighlightedNew inequalities | Resistance groups substitute new inequalities for old ones. For example, they introduce sexist or racist attitudes and practices while campaigning against economic inequalities. This has been a criticism of some trade unions in the past. |
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| HighlightedAuthoritarian practices | Many resistance groups are formed in opposition to authoritarian practices – yet it is possible that individual leaders within resistance groups come to centralise more power than is healthy. To some degree a concentration of power is inevitable for getting things done, so finding the balance between centralising and delegating is important. |
| HighlightedCorruption | Resisting groups can oppose cronyism and special favours from those in power. Yet when resistance groups gain power, they can simply replicate such corruption, only this time favouring their own people. |
| HighlightedIllusory inclusion | Resisting groups can promise new forms of inclusive leadership, but this can be a front for delegating unwanted tasks away from senior and privileged people within an organisation. |