Understanding Civil Disobedience: Impact and Consequences

Running Head: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE 1 Civil Disobedience Name: Institution:

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE 2 Civil Disobedience What is civil disobedience? Make up a law that you feel would warrant civil disobedience. How would you recommend civilly disobeying the law, and what do you feel would be the short-term and long-term consequences of your actions? Civil disobedience fundamentally describes a non-violent contravention of the law by the public that aims to bring legislative changes or alter specified government policies. The definition is found on important elements that the process usually follows. The infringement of the identified law must be intentional, which means the use of direct actions to breach the law ( Utilitarianism, 2019 ). Another element is that the action must be public to produce symbolic value to stimulate public awareness. Civil disobedience must also have collective support from people. The proponents must use peaceful methods. At its core, civil disobedience vehemently condemns violence. There must be a tolerance for any eventualities regarding a sanction. Importantly, the entirety of the process must champion for “higher principles” that justify the encroachment of the identified law or norm. An example of a law that would warrant civil disobedience is the prohibition of black youths from voting in state and federal elections because crime rate is high among black youngsters. A civil recommendation for this law would be granting civil disobedience because it is functionally discriminatory ( Justice, 2019 ). Every human being has the right to vote. Voting is a democratic right that individuals with disabilities, deviant behaviors, widowed and other groups deserve to express their interest in their preferred form of government ( Justice, 2019 ). For

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE 3 this reason, civil disobedience is important because it demonstrates compelling concerted efforts that can effectively change the political status quo. The short-term consequences of a civil disobedience process to alter this law would be protests. A legion of black people would undoubtedly protest to champion for the repealing of the legislation to provide them with equal voting rights like other people. The reaction would be intensified debates on the abolition of this law by various stakeholders and the affected citizenry (the black people) ( Justice, 2019 ). In the long-run, if civil disobedience does not work, violence can erupt in future because of the undermined democratic status of the black youths.

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CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE 4 References Justice. (2019). Ethics Unwrapped . McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved from https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/justice Utilitarianism. (2019). Ethics Unwrapped . McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved from https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/utilitarianism

Week 3 Discussion Topic 1 - Civil Disobedience

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