What is it about?
Malicious compliance, also called uncivil obedience, is an under-appreciated form of protest that doesn't involve breaking the law, but does involve being uncivil to your fellow community members. A philosopher discusses: what is it, and is it ever ok to do?
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Why is it important?
We have a settled view of protest as marching, calling our representatives, or engaging in civil disobedience. It is important to recognize that there are other forms of protest available to people, and that not all forms of protest involve breaking the law. We can and should be creative in our protesting!
Perspectives
I think this article is important because we don't often think about protest as involving compliance/obedience. Sometimes, hyperbolic obedience is more effective than shouting or marching to stop something awful! Being creative in our protesting, and thinking through when it is and isn't ok, will help us move towards a more just and more peaceful world. We've got to do something, and uncivil obedience is an under-appreciated option.
Jennifer Kling
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Nature, Ethics, and Politics of Uncivil Obedience, Journal of Pacifism and Nonviolence, January 2025, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/27727882-bja00035.
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