DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Authors

  • MARK R MACGUIGAN

Abstract

Civil disobedience is a non-violent act of public protest which is either actually illegal or of contested illegality. Since law and order can prevail only in conditions of social justice, it is especially likely that disobedience will result where injustice is being done by law itself. But does civil disobedience accord with democracy? Mark MacGuigan canvasses this form of dissent in its various manifestations, and concludes that when true to its nature, civil disobedience is paralegal, moral, and a contribution to democratic society. But when it becomes unduly coercive or engenders violence, it is destructive of democracy.

Keywords:

Jurisprudence, Politics and Political Theory

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Published

1971-05-01

Issue

Section

Legal Commentary