The New Book from DDr. Martin Balluch
Promedia, ISBN 978-3-85371-304-4, 160 pages,
9,90 Euro
This book, released at such a politically
crucial time in Austria, is being well received
at book presentations across the country.
Non-parliamentary forms of protest belong to
a healthy democracy. Blockades, sit-ins, boycotts
and extended campaigns contribute to a build
up of political pressure that has often instigated
social change. From the African American civil
rights movement through to the women's movement,
the peace movement and environmentalism - the
last 50 years has been the defining time for
these protest forms. In the recent past however,
we have seen increasing efforts to criminalise
the exercising of civil rights through the use
of anti-terror laws. In German speaking countries
we see Section 129 of the German Criminal Code
and in Austria Section 278 ff of the Austrian
Criminal Code being used against persons active
in political campaigning.
The movement in Austria has experienced increasing
State repression since 2008. Campaigns leading
up to that time had brought about direct changes
to laws regarding animals. These successes,
as well as an increase in peaceful hunt sabotage
protests, provoked extensive undercover police
investigations, lasting so far three years,
which led to the arrest and 3 and a half months
of remand custody for ten activists, one of
which being the author of this book.
In this book martin Balluch gives us an overview
of the reasons for and types of civil disobedience
employed in confrontational campaigning. The
book deals with resistance in democracy against
a social system, which is in many aspects detrimental
to the well-being and quality of life of individuals.
The author focuses on the question of legitimacy
of protest forms as a part of confrontational
campaigning within a democracy and discusses
the pro and contra arguments of over stepping
the law in order to protect these.
About the Author
Martin Balluch, born 1964, studied astronomy,
mathematics and physics in Vienna and Heidelberg,
where he was awarded his doctorate. In 2005
he received his second doctorate in philosophy
from the University of Vienna, writing his thesis
on animal ethics. His political activism began
in 1978 as he became involved in environmental
campaigning. Over the years he has increasingly
moved towards campaigning on behalf of non-human
animals and since 1989 he has been a leading
figure in the animal protection movement first
in England and then in Austria.
Resistance in Democracy (German only) can be
ordered from: office@vgt.at,
Telefon: 0043/1/9291498
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