Civil disobedience
Protest movements and political theory
It refers to deliberate forms of lawbreaking that seek political or legal change.
Historical context
Modern debates draw on traditions of protest against laws and institutions regarded as unjust. Theory distinguishes those practices from other forms of political objection.
Overview
A breach can have a communicative purpose if it tries to expose injustice publicly and prompt revision. Hard cases arise when protest is anonymous, causes harm, or addresses an unresponsive regime.
Main claims
Deliberately breaking a rule can serve to contest an injustice publicly.
Debates and nuances
Publicity, nonviolence, and acceptance of punishment are disputed criteria.
This entry provides educational context.