Property Disobedience as Protest: Rethinking Political Nonviolence

The Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs Global Fellows program presents “Property Disobedience as Protest: Rethinking Political Nonviolence” with William Scheuerman.

Property damage has become an increasingly common feature of political protest worldwide. How should we interpret and evaluate its proliferation? Drawing on his recent book of the same title (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2026), Professor Scheuerman examines when, if ever, politically motivated property damage is justifiable; what standards those pursuing it should meet; and how those standards are challenged by the rise of authoritarian populism. The lecture will deepen our understanding of nonviolence and civil disobedience.

William E. Scheuerman is an American philosopher and James H. Rudy Professor of Political Science at Indiana University Bloomington. He is known for his works on political theory.

This event is being organized by Shinkyu “James” Lee, Visiting Assistant Professor in International and Global Studies and director of the Rohatyn Global Fellows Program.