New Books Network James Greenwood-Reeves, "Justifying Violent Protest: Law and Morality in Democratic States" (Routledge, 2023)
Jan 4, 2026
James Greenwood-Reeves, a law lecturer at the University of Leeds, explores the moral and legal complexities of violent protest in democratic societies. He discusses the legitimacy of violence in movements like Extinction Rebellion and the Hong Kong protests, arguing that unjust laws may warrant civil disobedience. Greenwood-Reeves examines the relationship between constitutional morality and citizens’ rights, emphasizing how violence can serve as a moral dialogue against oppressive legal systems. His timely insights challenge conventional views on protest and democratic legitimacy.
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State Monopoly Creates Moral Tension
- Liberal democracies claim a monopoly on legitimate force while expecting moral obedience to law.
- James Greenwood-Reeves argues this creates tension where violent protest appears immediately contradictory but morally salient.
Laws As Moral Arguments
- Laws carry implied moral arguments that ask citizens to obey because they uphold constitutional principles.
- Greenwood-Reeves calls these the state's 'constitutional morality' used to justify obedience.
Protest As Moral Dialogue
- When laws are morally incoherent citizens can respond through democratic dialogue including protest.
- Greenwood-Reeves frames protest and disobedience as sequential steps in moral argument against bad laws.
