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ISBN: 9781771131063

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Languages of the Unheard

Why Militant Protest is Good for Democracy

“What we must see,” Martin Luther King once insisted, “is that a riot is the language of the unheard.” In this new era of global protest and popular revolt, Languages of the Unheard draws on 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—including armed actions by Weatherman and the Red Brigades, the LA Riots, the Zapatista uprising, the Mohawk land defence at Kanesatake, the Black Blocs at summit protests, the occupations of Tahrir Square and Zuccotti Park, the Indigenous occupation of Alcatraz, the Quebec Student Strike, and many more—this book will be of interest to democratic theorists and moral philosophers, and practically useful for protest militants attempting to grapple with the moral ambiguities and political dilemmas unique to their distinctive position.

Contributors

Stephen D'Arcy

Stephen D’Arcy is an associate professor of philosophy at Huron University College, Western University. A long-time social activist and protest organizer, he teaches and writes about democratic theory and practical ethics.

Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

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Riots, as outbursts of rebellion, might sometimes be defensible, even admirable, because they make it impossible to ignore the grievances of the exploited and the oppressed. The author presents a … 11 $1.10

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This chapter explores two case studies in the recent history of militancy: the recent Assemblies movement and the Global Justice movement from around the turn of the twenty-first century, and … 24 $2.40

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Not everyone admires confrontational protesters. Some people specifically dispute the claim that militancy is good for democracy. They believe, on the contrary, that militancy is a failing, … 24 $2.40

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This chapter proposes a democratic standard of sound militancy by asking why some militant actions are seen as acceptable in advancing a just cause while other similar actions are not. This … 19 $1.90

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this chapter explores the paradox of civil disobedience—its law-respecting legal defiance—and the ethical concerns that this paradox raises. 15 $1.50

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Sabotage has been practised for thousands of years, wherever people have found themselves forced, by the explicit threat of violence or the looming prospect of hunger, to toil on behalf of the … 19 $1.90

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In order to assess the role of black blocs as languages of the unheard, that is, as vehicles for fostering public autonomy and securing a voice for the silenced or ignored, it may matter … 23 $2.30

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This chapter argues that in many cases rioting may serve as a vehicle for fostering social inclusion and civic equality. Rioting has a unique capacity to allow the voiceless to interrupt business … 22 $2.20

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“Armed struggle” refers to intentionally using armed force to kill or injure people. Some groups, like Direct Action in Canada, injured people accidentally, but did not target them … 32 $3.20