Government 363 - Dissent: Disobedience, Resistance, Refusal and Exit

This seminar in political theory examines contemporary theories and practices of dissent, from civil disobedience to armed resistance to political exit. Are citizens morally obligated to obey unjust laws? What makes a law or political arrangement unjust? What kinds of protest actions are justified? What are the promises and limitations of nonviolence -- or violence? What effect do different forms of resistance have, and what is their political value? Is exiting -- quitting politics or leaving the polity -- a meaningful form of resistance? This course will engage with these questions by reading contemporary texts from political science, sociology, and philosophy, alongside works by practitioners of forms of disobedience and resistance. Prerequisite: coursework in political theory or permission of the instructor. Restriction(s): Limited to juniors and seniors.

Instructor Permission Req. Not open to first-years, sophomores