Who Is at Risk in Times of Political Unrest?

In every era of upheaval, there is a temptation to believe that danger belongs to someone else. That it will pass us by. That only “those people” will be targeted. History warns us otherwise.

Political unrest rarely unfolds in clean, predictable lines. It spreads like fire — sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once — catching groups who thought they were safe until the flames licked at their door.

Those Who Speak Out

Journalists, writers, clergy, teachers, artists - voices of truth and dissent are often the first to be silenced. In Pinochet’s Chile, poets like Pablo Neruda and singers like Víctor Jara were persecuted. In Nazi Germany, journalists who dared to print the truth about antisemitism were imprisoned or forced into exile. Speaking truth to power has always been dangerous when power turns authoritarian.

Wisdom: If you are outspoken, weigh each word carefully. Consider what must be said publicly and what is safer in private. Protect your work through backups, encrypted communication, and trusted allies who can carry your message forward if you cannot.

Those Who Are “Othered”

Minorities of religion, ethnicity, or language often become scapegoats. In 1930s Germany, Jews were gradually excluded from public life before violence erupted. In Rwanda, Tutsis were called “cockroaches” before neighbors turned on neighbors. In Bosnia, Muslims became targets of ethnic cleansing.

Wisdom: If you belong to a targeted group, don’t wait to see if rhetoric turns into action. Build quiet networks of support. Keep essential documents ready. Know where you could go — even temporarily — if home becomes unsafe. Minimize digital footprints that make you easy to find.

Those Who Are Vulnerable

The poor, the disabled, the elderly, and children often suffer most in unrest, not always because they are directly targeted, but because safety nets collapse. In Sarajevo, the elderly who could not fetch water from far-off wells were among the first to suffer. In every famine, it is children who are most exposed.

Wisdom: If you or someone you love is vulnerable, plan ahead for practical needs: stock essential medicines, arrange trusted caregivers, and build mutual-aid circles where responsibilities can be shared. Vulnerability lessens when community is strong.

Those Who Stand in Solidarity

History shows that allies are not always spared. In Nazi Germany, non-Jews married to Jewish spouses were targeted. In Rwanda, Hutus who protected Tutsi friends were killed alongside them. In authoritarian regimes, lawyers and clergy who defended the persecuted often became prisoners themselves.

Wisdom: Solidarity requires courage and discretion. If you stand with others, protect yourself with networks, not isolation. Share risk wisely, and prepare for the possibility that your commitment will make you visible.

Those Who Believe They Are Untouchable

Perhaps the most haunting lesson: even elites can fall. During the French Revolution, aristocrats who once enjoyed unimaginable power were led to the guillotine. In Stalin’s purges, high-ranking Party officials who thought themselves safe were executed. Wealth and position are fragile shields in unstable times.

Wisdom: Do not mistake privilege for immunity. Use your resources to prepare, to support vulnerable networks, and to build resilience rather than assuming you can weather the storm untouched.

Navigating Wisely if You Are at Risk

If history teaches anything, it is this: recognizing risk is not paranoia - it is clarity. Here are steps that help vulnerable people navigate times of unrest:

• Trust your instincts. If the language feels dangerous, it probably is.

• Prepare quietly. Gather documents, secure finances, and make contingency plans without fanfare.

• Build circles of trust. Isolation magnifies danger; community multiplies resilience.

• Diversify your information. Don’t rely on one news source or rumor mill. Seek multiple perspectives.

• Practice discretion. Learn when silence is survival, and when speaking is worth the risk.

• Plan exits. Even if you never need them, knowing routes - physical, financial, and social - gives peace of mind.

Why This Matters Now

It is tempting to minimize danger, to believe unrest will skip over us. But history shows that those who survived were rarely the ones who downplayed the storm. They were the ones who saw it clearly, took it seriously, and prepared quietly.

Tending the hearth in such times means more than warmth — it means vigilance. It means protecting the fire when the winds rise, guarding it so that even if the walls fall, the flame is not extinguished. Survival has never been about certainty. It has always been about clarity, courage, and care.