How Does Peaceful Resistance To Laws Affect Society

Peaceful resistance to laws positively affects society. By following a law one agrees with it. For the most part laws are just and by following them one can contribute positively to society, but there are unjust laws. By following an unjust law simply to prevent personal harm one is agreeing to the terms of the law. In agreeing to the law it is strengthened and others are more likely to follow. It is in this way that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Luther) due to the ease with which few become many and widespread. In the case that a government becomes abusive or unjust the population must resist the implementation of oppressive laws, for “an unjust law is no law at all” (Luther).

In a completely corrupt government there is little room for negotiation, and extreme measures are taken to ensure success, but violence is not necessary in
a mostly free society.
The most effective way to communicate with the government is through peaceful resistance. It shows that the protestors understand that the government has made a mistake and that they are willing to negotiate. The struggle for equality led by Martin Luther King Jr. was made to reflect the goals he wished to achieve. He wanted civil rights, so he protested through civil disobedience. Though it was an arduous journey the end result was the passage of several civil rights acts that significantly advanced the rights of minority groups. (Constitutional Amendments) The peaceful resistance of MLK resulted in a positive social change in the US, and that is a testament to the power of non-violence. More recently there has been a wave of nonviolent protests in Guatemala that have led to the resignation a corrupt government official. Guatemala has a
history of protests that have very often resulted in violence and injury, but the recent protests have yet to have a single violent outbreak. This shows that peaceful resistance is an invaluable asset to the production of positive social change. One cannot easily force a government to reform itself, but by offering understanding and reason one can easily persuade a government to change. Finally, one of the most well-known peaceful resistance movements was led by Gandhi, who effectively ended British rule over India. Millions of people participated on a scale previously unheard of, and through extreme determination the movement convinced the British that India was not worth attempting to control, and allowed it to govern itself.

Peaceful resistance is a catalyst for change, and when utilized correctly its effect on a free society is almost always positive. The organization brings people and communities together, and regardless of whether or not the goal is achieved people are more appreciative of one another. That is not to say that it is not an effective method of change, for it has repeatedly resulted in social reform that decreased tension and violence within a nation or community. The impact of peaceful resistance to laws in a free society is undoubtedly positive.