Property Disobedience As Protest

Rethinking Political Nonviolence

William E. Scheuerman

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Hardback

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English

University of Pennsylvania Press
06 January 2026

Social & political philosophy; Political science & theory; Human rights; Civil rights & citizenship; Pressure groups & lobbying

Series: Democracy, Citizenship, and Constitutionalism

William E. Scheuerman's book explores when, if ever, politically motivated property harms are justifiable

In 2020, Black Lives Matter activists toppled Confederate monuments and occasionally vandalized police vehicles and stations. Climate activists have damaged natural gas pipelines and famous artworks. In Hong Kong, pro-democracy students targeted businesses sympathetic to the mainland government. On January 6, 2021, far-right groups at the US Capitol mistreated public and private property as part of their efforts to disrupt finalizing election results. Property damage constitutes an increasingly commonplace feature of global political protest. How then to interpret and evaluate its proliferation? The media regularly describes such acts as ""violent,"" as do most scholars. However, William E. Scheuerman's book pushes back against conflating politically motivated violations of property rights with violence. Political violence has no place in democratic politics. Yet indiscriminately grouping property damage together with acts destructive of and harmful to persons is conceptually confusing and politically misleading. After all, Americans celebrate the Boston Tea Party. So why do most of us now categorically condemn many seemingly parallel acts?

Scheuerman tackles challenging and politically timely questions. When, if ever, are politically motivated property harms justifiable? What standards should we expect of those pursuing them to meet, under democratic conditions? How are those standards undermined by the rise of authoritarian populism around the world? Focusing on identifiably nonviolent varieties of what Scheuerman calls property disobedience,

his book explores a variety of real-life examples, both past and present, to understand how and why such acts may be politically justifiable--or should instead be viewed as beyond the pale.

By: William E. Scheuerman
Imprint: University of Pennsylvania Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781512828672
ISBN 10: 151282867X
Series: Democracy, Citizenship, and Constitutionalism
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 06 January 2026
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

William Scheuerman is the James H. Rudy Professor of Political Science at Indiana University

Reviews for Property Disobedience As Protest: Rethinking Political Nonviolence

""Against the common view that property damage is inherently violent, William E. Scheuerman offers a compelling, original, and timely account of 'property disobedience' that aligns with political nonviolence.""-- ""Candice Delmas, Northeastern University"" ""In a turbulent age of deepening social unrest and rising political repression, William E. Scheuerman dares to say the unsayable: while violence against people is always in principle antithetical to democracy, some types of property disobedience--corporate 'takedowns, ' campus occupations, toppling public monuments, and sabotaging arms factories--may well serve to rekindle and strengthen its spirit and substance. A brilliant book by a brilliant political thinker whose analytic sophistication and political humility show why in these difficult times thinking imaginatively about democracy is so vital for securing its future.""-- ""John Keane, University of Sydney, author of The Life and Death of Democracy""