The Political Theory of Disobedience and Protests

Module code: PL3154

This modules examines the political theory of disobedience and protest. You will look at traditional and contemporary theories concerning the uses of civility and incivility, violent and nonviolent direct action, resistance, refusal, and rioting. You will also engage with normative questions such as, could disruptive protests jeopardise the function of democracy? Can riots be justified? and, who has the right to resist? You will consider these theoretical debates in conversation with contemporary and historical case studies of protests movements responding to the issues of climate change, sexual violence, indigenous land and resources, racial oppression and austerity. Case studies will include a combination of Global North and Global experiences.

The module is divided into two parts. The first section, Theories and Justifications, focuses on the political theory of protests and disobedience, exploring the conceptual and ethical considerations involved in these actions. In this section, you will do close readings of key theoretical texts. The second section, Practices and Activists, will explore case studies for each of the theoretical and ethical considerations discussed in the first section. In this section, the module convenor, when possible, will invite an activist to the classroom to share first-hand experiences of activism.