What is the term for the refusal to obey civil law to change governmental policy using nonviolent means?

The term that refers to the refusal to obey civil law in order to change governmental policy through nonviolent means is known as civil disobedience. This concept involves individuals consciously breaking laws that they believe to be unjust, while also accepting the consequences of their actions to highlight perceived injustices and promote social change. It is characterized by its commitment to nonviolence, distinguishing it from more aggressive forms of protest or rebellion. Historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. utilized civil disobedience to advocate for civil rights and social justice.

While other options such as active resistance and political rebellion may involve opposition to government policies, they do not specifically capture the intentional, nonviolent refusal to comply with laws that is central to civil disobedience. Peaceful protest also signifies an act of demonstration but may not necessarily involve the act of disobeying laws. Civil disobedience is fundamentally rooted in the belief that individuals can challenge and change laws through conscientious law-breaking, motivated by moral or ethical reasons.