Authoritarian regimes do not permit dissent or opposition; they ban opposition parties and banish or imprison those who fail to manifest their consent. Dissent may take a number of forms: political, social or cultural. It may be expressed openly through protest or more passively via non-participation, cynicism, humour or cultural tastes. Totalitarian regimes often exercise minute control over citizens precisely because, in a context in which there are no open channels of debate, the smallest gesture or sign of disaffection may carry great significance.