This article examines the unpredictable consequences of escalated repression on the dynamics of contention. By examining sequences of interactions among contenders in the course of one conflict, analysis traces pathways through which the escalation of repression impacts activists and protest targets in ways that seemingly go against the intentions of repressive agents. Three types of outcomes of repression are identified: a worse situation for protest targets; triggered radicalization; and a “chilling effect” on lawful protest. This article contributes by demonstrating a temporally sensitive approach that traces how certain pathways combine to produce these unintended outcomes. The empirical case studied is the life cycle (1999–2014) of the British conflict between the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty animal rights campaign and the Huntingdon Life Sciences corporation, which also involved the government, criminal justice agencies, and private businesses.

本文探讨了升级的压制对竞争动态的不可预测的后果。通过检查一个冲突过程中竞争者之间的互动顺序，分析可以追踪出压制升级对活动分子和抗议目标产生影响的途径，这些途径似乎与镇压剂的意图背道而驰。确定了三种镇压结果：抗议目标的情况更糟；抗议目标的情况更糟。引发激进化；以及对合法抗议活动的“寒蝉效应”。本文通过演示一种对时间敏感的方法来做出贡献，该方法可跟踪某些途径如何组合以产生这些意想不到的结果。