It is well known that John Locke, a famed sculptor of modern American government, was a vehement proponent of representative democracy. But what may go unnoticed is his unequivocal affirmation that when government fails to promote the general will, it is the obligation of the people to resist. Still, many modern scholars caution against civil disobedience of laws, asserting that there are more effective means through which change can be enacted. But in spite of their arguments, peaceful resistance to laws has been pivotal in creating lasting change in free societies across the world, and civil disobedience is not a flagrant violation of law and order -- rather, it is a precious cornerstone of a free society that holds its government accountable.
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Susan B. Anthony, a prominent American feminist of the 19th century, voted in a federal election in 1872 -- though women could not legally vote. In peacefully resisting her disenfranchisement, Anthony not only made headlines, but carved a path for women’s suffrage and ultimately, gender equality. While some might argue that Anthony could have engaged in legal endeavors to promote her cause, this alone would not have left such a tangible impact. Because while legal suffrage organizations did exist at the time, their activities were paired with several acts of civil disobedience such as those of Anthony and the National Woman’s Party (NWP) in order to gain publicity for their cause. Ultimately, the public attention that burgeoned from these acts of resistance was pivotal in granting the franchise to …show more content…
Philosopher Bertrand Russell concludes that “democracy...is by no means immune to abuses of power” and “if valuable liberties are to be preserved there have to be people willing to criticize authority and even, on occasion, to disobey,” evincing the necessity of peaceful resistance to laws in order to preserve the very freedoms that characterize a democracy. For instance, during the apartheid era in South Africa, several marches were held to protest unjust racial segregation, including the 1989 Cape Town Peace March, which defied a statute that banned political protests. Just two years after this large march, led by some of South Africa’s most famous anti-apartheid leaders, racial segregation was abolished. Had this resistance not occurred, global public attention would not have been directed toward governmental injustices to the same extent, and consequently, change would have not been enacted as promptly. Hence, republican governments are held accountable through peaceful resistance that reflects the will of the
Susan B. Anthony, a prominent American feminist of the 19th century, voted in a federal election in 1872 -- though women could not legally vote. In peacefully resisting her disenfranchisement, Anthony not only made headlines, but carved a path for women’s suffrage and ultimately, gender equality. While some might argue that Anthony could have engaged in legal endeavors to promote her cause, this alone would not have left such a tangible impact. Because while legal suffrage organizations did exist at the time, their activities were paired with several acts of civil disobedience such as those of Anthony and the National Woman’s Party (NWP) in order to gain publicity for their cause. Ultimately, the public attention that burgeoned from these acts of resistance was pivotal in granting the franchise to …show more content…
Philosopher Bertrand Russell concludes that “democracy...is by no means immune to abuses of power” and “if valuable liberties are to be preserved there have to be people willing to criticize authority and even, on occasion, to disobey,” evincing the necessity of peaceful resistance to laws in order to preserve the very freedoms that characterize a democracy. For instance, during the apartheid era in South Africa, several marches were held to protest unjust racial segregation, including the 1989 Cape Town Peace March, which defied a statute that banned political protests. Just two years after this large march, led by some of South Africa’s most famous anti-apartheid leaders, racial segregation was abolished. Had this resistance not occurred, global public attention would not have been directed toward governmental injustices to the same extent, and consequently, change would have not been enacted as promptly. Hence, republican governments are held accountable through peaceful resistance that reflects the will of the