New Books in Law James Greenwood-Reeves, "Justifying Violent Protest: Law and Morality in Democratic States" (Routledge, 2023)
Jan 4, 2026
James Greenwood-Reeves, a Lecturer in Law at the University of Leeds, dives deep into the complex relationship between law, morality, and protest. He explores whether violent protest can be justified, referencing movements like Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter. Greenwood-Reeves argues that when state laws are unjust, citizens may have moral reasons to use violence as a form of expression and protest. He also applies his theories to recent events like the January 6th Capitol attack, challenging conventional views on legitimacy and civil disobedience.
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Law As A Moral Argument
- Law functions as a moral argument that asks citizens to obey by appealing to constitutional values like justice and equality.
- When those moral claims collapse, obedience loses its moral force and citizens have grounds to resist.
Protest As Moral Dialogue
- Protest operates as a form of moral dialogue between citizens and the state when institutional remedies fail.
- Unlawful protest can be a legitimate way to highlight and contest a law's moral incoherence.
Violence Is Contextual, Not Fixed
- Violence resists a single fixed definition; it's a social construct with a paradigmatic core (harm, coercion, targeting persons/property).
- Practical assessment should focus on the moral consequences and liberty loss caused by an act, not only labels.
