Protests against human rights violations, austerity and genocide are frequently claimed to be undemocratic and violent. The Responsibility to Disrupt argues that disruption is not only necessary for democracy, but a responsibility of democratic citizens, particularly when formal institutions fail to address systemic injustices. With a focus on disruptive activism in democratic contexts, the book examines the role of disruption through case studies including Extinction Rebellion, pro-Palestine university campus protests and the activities of far-right activist groups. It approaches the ethical question of disruption from three angles: a citizen responsibility, a situated practice and a political act that always requires a specific justification. Ultimately, the book argues that the legitimacy of disruption is rarely, if ever, uncontestable: the point is not to be right, but to spark reflection.
