Abstract:
How civil disobedience should be defined is a heavily contested subject, with many
theorists having offered various definitions. Civil disobedience, however, is often seen as
an American concept. While most definitions are presented as being universal, it seems
improbable that definitions imbued by American culture will be appropriate to apply to
other states. This paper therefore seeks to propose an alternative model of civil
disobedience, specifically tailored to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Examining Aotearoa's commitment to democracy, the paper argues that the model should
be loosely based on radical democratic theory. However, it also argues that the model
should incorporate learnings of real-world civil disobedience. The case study of the 1981
Springbok Tour means that an Aotearoa model of civil disobedience should allow for
violence in select situations, take a somewhat feminist approach to the publicity and
illegality requirements, allow for Māori understandings of resistance and the presence of
multiple motivations. While future analyses of civil disobedience in Aotearoa should
necessarily continue to develop this definition, the model provides a first taste of Kiwi civil
disobedience.
