The following are examples of civil disobedience.
Bahamas
In 2023, the leader of the environmental organization Bahamian Evolution called for civil disobedience as they protested against the government.
Cuba
The movement Yo No Coopero Con La Dictadura ("I Do Not Cooperate with the Dictatorship"), commonly called Yo No ("Not I" or "I don't") for short, is a civil disobedience campaign against the government in Cuba. The campaign utilizes the slogan "I do want change", and is articulated in six fundamental points: "I do not repudiate, I do not assist, I do not snitch, I do not follow, I do not cooperate, and I do not repress." Furthermore, as a symbolic gesture of non-cooperation with the Cuban regime, members of the organization cross their arms over their chests.
Multiple artists, such as Lissette Álvarez, Amaury Gutiérrez, Willy Chirino, Jon Secada, Paquito D'Rivera and Boncó Quiñongo, have declared their support for the movement.
Ladies in White is a group of wives, mothers, and sisters of imprisoned Cuban dissidents, who have engaged in peaceful civil disobedience in order to seek the release of their relatives, whom they allege are political prisoners. Ladies in White jointly won the European Union's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
The Singing Revolution lasted over four years, with various protests and acts of defiance. In 1991, as Soviet tanks attempted to stop the progress towards independence, the Supreme Council of Estonia together with the Congress of Estonia proclaimed the restoration of the independent state of Estonia and repudiated Soviet legislation. People acted as human shields to protect radio and TV stations from the Soviet tanks. Through these actions Estonia regained its independence without any bloodshed.
Egypt
Among the several civil disobedience that took place along the history of modern Egypt (most of which aren't widely known), the Egyptian Revolution of 1919 is considered to be one of the earliest successful implementations of non-violent civil disobedience world-wide. It was a countrywide revolution against the British occupation of Egypt and Sudan. It was started by Egyptians and Sudanese from different walks of life as a wake against the British-ordered exile of revolutionary leader Saad Zaghlul and other members of the Wafd Party in 1919.
The 1919 revolution in Egypt continued for months as civil disobedience against the British occupation and strikes by students and lawyers, as well as postal, telegraph, tram and railway workers, and, eventually Egyptian government personnel. The event led to Britain's recognition of Egyptian independence in 1922, and the implementation of a new constitution in 1923.
East Germany
The Uprising of 1953 was disobedience against the government in East Germany. The protests were put down by the state.
Civil resistance was a significant factor behind the dissolution of communist governments and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
France
In 1972, 103 peasant landowners took an oath to resist the proposed extension of the existing military training base on the Larzac plateau. Lanza del Vasto, a disciple of Gandhi, advised them on civil disobedience tactics, including hunger strikes, that were ultimately successful. The base extension was cancelled by President François Mitterrand immediately after his election in 1984
India
Civil disobedience has served as a major tactic of nationalist movements in former colonies in Africa and Asia prior to their gaining independence. Most notably, Mahatma Gandhi developed civil disobedience as an anti-colonialist tool. Gandhi stated, "Civil disobedience is the inherent right of a citizen to be civil, implies discipline, thought, care, attention and sacrifice". Though some biographers opine that Gandhi learned of civil disobedience from Thoreau's classic essay, which he incorporated into his non-violent Satyagraha philosophy, Gandhi in Hind Swaraj observes that "In India the nation at large has generally used passive resistance in all departments of life. We cease to cooperate with our rulers when they displease us."Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, v. 4, pp 176-7; cited, Micheline Ishay, The History of Human Rights: From Ancient Times to the Globalization Era. University of California Press (2004), p. 42. Dharam Pal, Civil Disobedience in Indian Tradition, intro. by Jayprakash Narayan (Dharam Pal's Collected Writings, Vol.II) Other India Press (2000) Gandhi's work in South Africa and in the Indian independence movement was the first successful application of civil disobedience on a large scale.
Israel
Following the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s, Moshe Feiglin and Shmuel Sackett founded Zo Artzeinu (Hebrew: זו ארצנו, This is our land), a political protest movement created to block Israeli land concessions to the Arabs, and prevent recognition of the State of Palestine by the government. The movement was known to block roads and use other forms of civil disobedience. The leaders were arrested and sentenced to prison sentences for sedition, but the sentences were later commuted to community service instead.
Japan Anpo protests in 1960
Republic of Korea March 1st Movement against Japanese rule 15 March movement against First Republic of South Korea in 1960 April revolution Bu-Ma Democratic Protests Gwangju Uprising June Revolution
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Sajudis used civil disobedience in the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic to seek independence from the Soviet Union.
Myanmar
In response to 2021 Myanmar military coup, frontline medical workers country-wide have started a civil disobedience movement. 70 hospitals and medical departments have stopped work in protest of government formed after the coup. In addition, the citizens have used nationwide coordinated symbolic protest of 8pm-nightly clanging of pots and cymbals—alluding to the tradition of making noise to expel evil spirits.
Pakistan
In 2007-2008, lawyers in Pakistan led a nationwide movement of street protests and civil disobedience against the rule of President Pervez Musharraf, an army general. The Lawyers' Movement began in response to Musharraf's attempt to dismiss the chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, after Chaudhry issued rulings holding Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies responsible for the unexplained disappearance of hundreds of Pakistani citizens.Masood, Salman (13 May 2007). "Pakistani Leader Assailed for Deadly Clashes". The New York Times. Accessed 29 March 2021. The lawyers won support of political parties and civil society groups opposed to a continuation of army rule. Police attacked protest marches with batons, arrested lawyers and human rights leaders organizing the movement, and raided the Lahore High Court Bar Association, one of the organizing centers of the civil disobedience campaign.Traub, James (1 June 2008). "The Lawyers' Crusade". The New York Times. Accessed 29 March 2021. Musharraf lost public support and Pakistan's main political parties agreed in summer 2008 to impeach him. Musharraf resigned in August and a quickly organized presidential election yielded Asif Ali Zardari, the husband of the assassinated former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, as Musharraf's successor. Zardari hesitated to reinstall the independent-minded Chaudhry as chief justice and protests, including civil disobedience, continued until Zardari did so in March 2009.Perlez, Jane (15 March 2009). "Pakistan Leader Backs Down and Reinstates Top Judge". The New York Times. Accessed 29 March 2021.
On 17 August 2014, Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan called for widespread civil disobedience in Pakistan, urging supporters to stop paying taxes and utility bills in a bid to oust the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan has called for a campaign of civil disobedience as he addressed thousands of supporters protesting for a second day against the government of Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad.
The FPCCI(Federation of the Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry) chief said political activities should not affect economic and trade activities. Strikes, harassment through mobs and destruction of the public and private properties are the national loss.
Zakaria Usman said that political crises needed dialogue and all political parties should come forward for this noble cause.
Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) President Mohammad Asim Siddiqi said that the PTI has not unveiled any future plans as to how the country will run if nobody will pay taxes, duties and utility bills.
The PTI chief must disclose as to how the country would pay its foreign debt and achieve economic stability, he said. Vice President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Kashif Anwar said: "We made old Pakistan in 1947, new Pakistan in 1971 but cannot afford another new Pakistan at a time when the country and the business environment are already passing through various challenges." "Everybody has to pay taxes and duties to foster economic activities", he said.
"Imran should focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and emerge as a role model by taking the province to the peak of economic and political stability", Kashif said, adding "if Nawaz Sharif fails to live up to the expectations of the people, the people would cast vote in favour of Khan Saheb in the next election for a better performance in KP."
Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Dr Shimail Daud Arain said he had contacted all chambers, including Karachi Chamber, who have unanimously rejected the PTI chief's call. Site Association of Trade and Industry Chairman Younus Bashir said the businessmen would condemn PTI call which would only create cracks in country's economic and political stability. In Short the call for civil disobedience was rejected by the nation.
East Pakistan (Bangladesh)
During his famous speech on 7 March 1971, East Pakistan's Bengali nationalist leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his Awami League party with the support of the Indian state announced the historic "non-cooperation" movement against the military and political establishment of West Pakistan in an effort to press the Pakistani government to accept the national election results of 1970 in which the Awami League won. The movement saw the complete shut down of all government and semi government offices, public transport, businesses, schools, and colleges. East Pakistanis stopped paying taxes to the Pakistani state, and all monetary transactions between East and West Pakistan came to a complete halt. All forms of communications in the form of telephone and telegraph with West Pakistan were also suspended. The Awami League leadership became the de facto government of East Pakistan for 18 days, and this shook the very core of the Pakistani state. The movement came to an end with the launch of the bloody Operation Searchlight by the Pakistan Army on 26 March 1971.
Puerto Rico
At least four major acts of civil disobedience have taken place in Puerto Rico. These have not been directed at the local government of the Commonwealth, but against the Federal Government of the United States.