What is Civil disobedience?

• A. the refusal to comply with certain laws considered unjust, as a peaceful form of political protest. E.g. chaining oneself to a railing in Parliament.
• B. violent protest
• C. a legal obligation to obey the law
• D. a boycott of products

Answer: (A)

Civil disobedience is the deliberate, nonviolent refusal to obey laws or government policies one believes are unjust, done openly to draw attention to the issue and push for change. It emphasizes peaceful action and moral conviction, with the protester ready to accept penalties or arrest to show commitment to justice rather than to break or avoid consequences. The example of chaining oneself to a railing in Parliament illustrates a calm, visible act inside the political arena aimed at sparking discussion and reform without violence.

This approach differs from violent protest, which uses force or harm. It is not simply obeying the law, which would mean compliance rather than protest. And it isn’t a boycott, which is a consumer or economic tactic that avoids buying or using goods to pressure change rather than breaking laws.