Elliot M. Zashin defines civil disobedience “as nonviolent, non-revolutionary… that breaks a law… done in public and done mainly to educate or persuade the majority” (Zashin, 1972, p. 110). This definition denotes that the place of civil disobedience on the map of political opposition is between revolution and peaceful protest. Revolutions aim to overturn the current regime or perhaps the entire political system. Political protest is often authorised by the existing authority and it attempts to change or amend a particular law or decision. Civil disobedience does not intend to overthrow the political system or to replace the ruling power, but to change an unjust law or perhaps a set of unfair laws. Civil disobedience becomes a realistic and
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It is a kind of opposition or rather a very advanced shape of political and social peaceful resistance. It is not a very commonplace form of political opposition, not because it is a negative form of resistance, but because it rarely occurs. This is because civil disobedience necessitates special requirements and certain conditions that are difficult to be achieved at all times and places. Also, the consequences of civil disobedience are not always benign and sometimes come contrary to the anticipations of the organizers and participants themselves. In this sense, Noam Chomsky has said that “Civil disobedience … sometimes that is a good tactic, sometimes not” (Aldridge, 2014, p. 27). Civil disobedience can be regarded as the most sophisticated case of the embodiment of democracy. Therefore, it is difficult if not impossible to imagine a democracy without the freedom of opposition including the right of civil disobedience. Freedom of expression is the core of democracy and one of its initial cornerstones. Civil disobedience is a product of democratization because it can only be discussed and applied peacefully in the shadow of democracy. Freedom of civil disobedience is complementary and supportive of democracy, regardless of commitment and respect to the results of the democratic process. In this context, Zinn has stated that “Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it” (Reader, 1997, P. 383). It is not plausible to invalidate the idea and the right of civil disobedience on the grounds that it contradicts the results emanating from the democratic process. It also cannot be rejected under the pretext that there are no laws and legislations that legalize
It is a kind of opposition or rather a very advanced shape of political and social peaceful resistance. It is not a very commonplace form of political opposition, not because it is a negative form of resistance, but because it rarely occurs. This is because civil disobedience necessitates special requirements and certain conditions that are difficult to be achieved at all times and places. Also, the consequences of civil disobedience are not always benign and sometimes come contrary to the anticipations of the organizers and participants themselves. In this sense, Noam Chomsky has said that “Civil disobedience … sometimes that is a good tactic, sometimes not” (Aldridge, 2014, p. 27). Civil disobedience can be regarded as the most sophisticated case of the embodiment of democracy. Therefore, it is difficult if not impossible to imagine a democracy without the freedom of opposition including the right of civil disobedience. Freedom of expression is the core of democracy and one of its initial cornerstones. Civil disobedience is a product of democratization because it can only be discussed and applied peacefully in the shadow of democracy. Freedom of civil disobedience is complementary and supportive of democracy, regardless of commitment and respect to the results of the democratic process. In this context, Zinn has stated that “Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it” (Reader, 1997, P. 383). It is not plausible to invalidate the idea and the right of civil disobedience on the grounds that it contradicts the results emanating from the democratic process. It also cannot be rejected under the pretext that there are no laws and legislations that legalize