Les Kurtz, professor of Sociology at George Mason University and author/editor of several books including, "The Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict," explored the "paradox of repression"--efforts by elites to repress civil resistance movements that often end up strengthening those movements instead of weakening them. Examining key historic cases of "repression management" by movement organizers, Kurtz showed how repression can erode a regime's pillars of support, promote questions if not outright defections among power elites, and often become a turning point in leading toward a movement's success.