Coercion
Overview
Coercion (강제, coercion) refers to the act or state of forcing an individual or group to perform a specific action or maintain a specific state against their free will. It is treated as an important concept in various academic fields such as law, politics, sociology, and psychology, and acts as an element that restricts human freedom and rights. Coercion appears in various forms, ranging from direct coercion through physical force to psychological pressure or institutional coercion.
Main Content
Legal Coercion
In law, coercion refers to the state or public authority, based on law, forcing a specific action against an individual's will or imposing sanctions such as seizure of property or detention. In criminal law, representative examples include indecent assault by coercion, compulsory execution, and coercive measures; in civil law, there is compulsory execution (the procedure of forcibly seizing and selling a debtor's property to recover a claim). In administrative law, there is administrative coercion (exercising physical force against the will of the people to achieve administrative purposes). Such legal coercion must be clearly stipulated by law according to the principle of the rule of law and must comply with the principle of proportionality.
Social Coercion
In sociology, coercion refers to the mechanism by which social norms, customs, institutions, etc., force specific behaviors on individuals. Émile Durkheim viewed social facts as exercising external coercive power over individuals. For example, the education system forcibly instills specific knowledge and values into students, and workplace discipline forces specific behaviors on workers. Social coercion is often implicit, and individuals often follow it voluntarily by internalizing it.
Psychological Coercion
In psychology, coercion refers to psychological pressure that makes someone act against their will. This appears in various forms such as intimidation, threats, emotional manipulation, and gaslighting. Psychological coercion can cause serious mental harm to victims, including anxiety, depression, helplessness, and lowered self-esteem. Psychological coercion plays a particularly important role in domestic violence, school violence, and workplace bullying.
Political Coercion
In political science, coercion refers to the state or those in power forcing specific political actions on citizens or suppressing opposing opinions. In dictatorial regimes, coercion appears in forms such as media control, prohibition of assemblies, and suppression of political opponents. Even in democratic countries, coercion based on law (e.g., tax collection, military service obligations) exists, but it is justified for the public interest. Political coercion is closely linked to the issue of the legitimacy of power.
Economic Coercion
In economics, coercion refers to situations where economic agents cannot make free choices. For example, a monopoly company forces unfavorable conditions on consumers, or an employer forces poor working conditions on workers. Economic coercion is considered a form of market failure and is limited by government regulations, labor laws, and fair trade laws.
Recent Trends
As of 2024-2025, the concept of coercion is being newly highlighted in the digital environment. There are increasing cases of algorithmic coercion on online platforms (e.g., recommendation systems forcibly inducing user choices), algorithmic management on digital labor platforms (e.g., delivery apps forcing specific routes or times on riders), and AI-based surveillance systems forcibly controlling individual behavior. Additionally, after the COVID-19 pandemic, coercive measures for public health, such as mandatory vaccination and compulsory mask-wearing, have sparked controversy, triggering discussions on the balance between individual freedom and public interest. In 2024, the European Union's AI Act introduced regulations limiting the use of coercive surveillance technology, and in South Korea, measures to prevent forced labor for platform workers were strengthened through amendments to labor law. Furthermore, 'cyber gaslighting,' a digital version of psychological coercion, has emerged as a social issue, and discussions on enacting related laws are underway.
Related Topics
- [[Rule of law]]
- [[Human rights]]
- [[Free will]]
- [[Compulsory execution]]
- [[Social norms]]
- [[Psychological manipulation]]
- [[Digital rights]]
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