When is civil disobedience a viable tactic to effect change?

Question

a.When other channels for change are blocked or don't exist

b.When there is a need to set a moral example to motivate action by others

c.When an institution or government is undermining the principles it is established to uphold

d.All of the above

e.None of the above

Answer 1

Civil disobedience is a viable tactic for political or social change in many situations. For example, Henry David Thoreau, an American writer (On Walden Pond and Civil Disobedience), refused to pay taxes as a protest against slavery. Gandhi reasoned that violence causes more problems that it solves, such as long term hatred and opposition against those using violence. King used civil disobedience to effect change using widespread refusal to obey government laws and policies that he regarded as unjust.

Civil disobedience is sometimes used based on a moral objection to violence. Another justification is that it avoids the long-term impact of violence, such as violence becoming a normal way of resolving conflicts. Civil disobedience is also used when people have no other means to oppose repressive policies or a repressive government.

Can it be successful? Yes it can. The civil disobedience advocated by Gandhi and King (and others such as Mandela in South Africa and Havel in Czech) achieved many of their goals and without using violence.

Hope this helps. Dr. Lisa S. McLeod-Simmons.