Civil Disobedience

Overview:

In this course students will develop an understanding of the purpose of laws and what can make a law just or unjust. The course will take an in depth look at case studies from the civil rights movement, the fight for Indian independence as well as South Africa’s fight against Apartheid. The class will also investigate more recent moments of resistance and the influence of technology on methods of civil disobedience. Throughout the course students will be asked to consider what are the most effective tools of civil disobedience and whether or not violence is necessary for social, political or economic change.

Essential Questions:

1. Are we obligated to always obey the law?

2. What are rights all states must respect?

3. When, if ever, is it okay to break the law?

4. Is violence necessary for political or social change?

Assessments: 

§ Persuasive, analytical and comparative essays

§ In-class debates with delineated perspectives

§ Presentations by individuals and groups