Unkooperation

Unkooperation is a concept describing deliberate refusal to cooperate with a person, organization, or government as a conscious tactical choice to compel change or express opposition. It encompasses a range of noncooperative behaviors, from social and professional disengagement to organized strategies aimed at undermining authority without resorting to violence.

The term appears mainly in Germanic-language discourse and in academic discussions of civil resistance. In English-language literature, terms such as noncooperation or civil resistance are more common, but unkooperation is used to emphasize the active, organized refusal to collaborate as a policy or tactic.

Tactics associated with unkooperation include boycotts, strikes, withdrawal from cooperation agreements, refusal to share information, noncompliance with procedures, and other forms of protest designed to reduce the effectiveness of the target.

Historical and contemporary contexts. The concept is closely related to civil resistance and nonviolent protest; notable historical associations include Gandhi's non-cooperation movement in the early 1920s, as well as labor and consumer boycott campaigns in various countries.

Effects and evaluation. Unkooperation can mobilize support, influence policy, or signal legitimacy; its effectiveness depends on participant continuity, legitimacy of the cause, solidarity with affected communities, and the willingness of authorities to negotiate. Critics warn of potential harm to social and economic order, the risk of escalation, and unequal burdens on participants.

See also: civil disobedience, noncooperation, boycott, peaceful protest.