Languages of the Unheard : Why Militant Protest Is Good for Democracy

Martin Luther King once insisted that 'a riot is the language of the unheard.' Since 2011 swathes of protest, rebellion and rioting have covered the globe. A new, disenfranchised generation is fighting for its voice as once again scores of police line the streets and pop icons demand a political revolution. Challenging the reader to consider arson attacks against empty buildings, Black Bloc streetfighting tactics and industrial sabotage, amongst an array of other militant action, philosopher Steven D'Arcy asks if it is ever acceptable to use or threaten to use armed force? Drawing a clear line between justifiable and unjustifiable militancy, __Languages of the Unheard__ shows that the crucial contrast is between democratic and undemocratic action, rather than violence and non-violence.Both a consideration of the ethics and politics of militant protest and the story of dissidents and their actions post 1968, this book argues that militancy is not a danger to democratic norms of consensus-building. Instead, it is a legitimate remedy for elite intransigence and unresponsive systems of power that ignore, or silence, the people. Languages of the Unheard Why militant protest is good for democracy Martin Luther King once insisted that 'a riot is the language of the unheard.' Since 2011 swathes of protest, rebellion, and rioting have covered the globe. A new, disenfranchised generation is fighting for its voice as once again scores of police line the streets and pop icons demand a political revolution. Challenging us to consider arson attacks against empty buildings, black bloc street-fighting tactics, and industrial sabotage, amongst an array of other militant action, philosopher Stephen D'Arcy asks if it is ever acceptable to use or threaten to use armed force. Drawing a clear line between justifiable and unjustifiable militancy, 'Languages of the Unheard' shows that the crucial contrast is between democratic and undemocratic action, rather than violence and non-violence. Both a consideration of the ethics and politics of militant protest and the story of dissidents and their actions post 1968, this book argues that militancy is not a danger to democratic norms of consensus-building. Instead, it is a legitimate remedy for elite intransigence and unresponsive systems of power that ignore, or silence, the people. Stephen D'Arcy is an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at Huron University College, at Western University, in London, Ontario. Publisher's note

Martin Luther King once insisted that 'a riot is the language of the unheard.' Since 2011 swathes of protest, rebellion, and rioting have covered the globe. A new, disenfranchised generation is fighting for its voice as once again scores of police line the streets and pop icons demand a political revolution.Challenging us to consider arson attacks against empty buildings, black bloc street-fighting tactics, and industrial sabotage, amongst an array of other militant action, philosopher Stephen D'Arcy asks if it is ever acceptable to use or threaten to use armed force. Drawing a clear line between justifiable and unjustifiable militancy, Languages of the Unheard shows that the crucial contrast is between democratic and undemocratic action, rather than violence and non-violence.Both a consideration of the ethics and politics of militant protest and the story of dissidents and their actions post 1968, this book argues that militancy is not a danger to democratic norms of consensus-building. Instead, it is a legitimate remedy for elite intransigence and unresponsive systems of power that ignore, or silence, the people.

Martin Luther King once insisted that 'a riot is the language of the unheard.' Since 2011 swathes of protest, rebellion and rioting have covered the globe. A new, disenfranchised generation is fighting for its voice as once again scores of police line the streets and pop icons demand a political revolution. Challenging the reader to consider arson attacks against empty buildings, Black Bloc streetfighting tactics and industrial sabotage, amongst an array of other militant action, philosopher Steven D'Arcy asks if it is ever acceptable to use or threaten to use armed force? Drawing a clear line between justifiable and unjustifiable militancy, Languages of the Unheard shows that the crucial contrast is between democratic and undemocratic action, rather than violence and non-violence. Both a consideration of the ethics and politics of militant protest and the story of dissidents and their actions post 1968, this book argues that militancy is not a danger to democratic norms of consensus-building. Instead, it is a legitimate remedy for elite intransigence and unresponsive systems of power that ignore, or silence, the people. Martin Luther King once insisted that "a riot is the language of the unheard." Since 2011 swathes of protest, rebellion, and rioting have covered the globe. A new, disenfranchised generation is fighting for its voice as once again scores of police line the streets and pop icons demand a political revolution. Challenging us to consider arson attacks against empty buildings, black bloc street-fighting tactics, and industrial sabotage, amongst an array of other militant actions, philosopher Stephen D'Arcy asks if it is ever acceptable to use or threaten to use armed force. Both a consideration of the ethics and politics of militant protest and the story of dissidents and their actions post 1968, Languages of the Unheard argues that militancy is not a danger to democratic norms of consensus-building. Instead, it is a legitimate remedy for elite intransigence and unresponsive systems of power that ignore, or silence, the people. Draws on Martin Luther King's insight to address a timely and controversial topic -- the ethics and politics of militant resistance. Using vivid examples from the history of militancy, D'Arcy challenges us to rethink the moral ambiguities and political dilemmas unique to protest militants. Introduction. Militancy as a civic virtue Part 1. A standard of sound militancy The militant's vocation The liberal objection The democratic standard Part 2. Applications. Civil disobedience Disruptive direct action Sabotage The Black Bloc Rioting Armed struggle. This book addresses the ethics and politics of militant protest, ranging from non-violent civil disobedience through to rioting, sabotage and armed struggle and asks if it is ever justifiable to use armed force.