This template's initial visibility currently defaults to

1. REDIRECT Template:Parameter value

__EXPECTSHORTPAGE__, meaning that it is hidden apart from its title bar.

To change this template's initial visibility, the <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline style="display: none;" />|state= parameter may be used:

• <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="1">{{Soviet dissidents|state=expanded}}</syntaxhighlight> will show the template expanded, i.e. fully visible.
• <syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext" inline="1">{{Soviet dissidents|state=autocollapse}}</syntaxhighlight> will show the template autocollapsed, i.e. if there is another collapsible item on the page (a navbox, sidebar, or table with the collapsible attribute), it is hidden apart from its title bar, but if not, it is fully visible.