Laws have an indisputably important function in modern societies, providing order and structure to society by restricting or mandating certain behaviors and actions. Rule of law is the foundation on which peace rests, and respect for the law allows cooperative, trusting, and prosperous societies to develop. Throughout history, however, laws have been created with less-than-altruistic intentions. The powerful often use legislation to advance their interests and oppress their enemies—it is no surprise that those who make the rules often benefit the most from them. Lawmakers do not always have selfish intentions, but neither are they always benevolent. Rather, the process of creating rules for society is a complicated process that does not have …show more content…
Protesters and other advocates often break the law in a very public manner, hoping their arrests will bring media attention to an issue. In doing this, they hope to expose people to an injustice and thus inspire political action. Civil disobedience can also be a part of a non-cooperative bargaining strategy, in which a group of people that has an essential societal role refuses to exercise that role, forcing concessions from a more powerful group. This is the strategy used by labor unions to bargain with the businesses that employ them. It has also been used throughout history by economically important but oppressed groups to induce change, such as during the Montgomery bus boycotts. These actions are not always illegal, but can be. For example, striking was often prohibited in the late 1800’s, until repeated protests brought about both the changes that the strikers sought and an end to the unjust laws …show more content…
Can anyone be justified in breaking the law if they do not agree with it? Opinions differ on which laws are immoral, and on what injustices justify breaking the law, but the fact is that anyone can break any law they like for any reason. Groups of people cannot be stopped from breaking the law to make political points, but only if a group is large enough and organized enough, and if a society is moved by their cause to sympathize and act, can that group succeed in changing a law viewed as unjust by society. If not, than the law will remain as it is, with no additional negative impact to society in general. Although the point could be made that too much contempt for the law might undermine rule of law, a law-abiding culture is unlikely to be seriously shifted solely by isolated acts of justified political disobedience. Thus, civil disobedience has the potential to inspire positive change, but has few downsides if the moral or political philosophy of a certain group is not shared by society at