Page 9 - Lessonnote_Social Change and Social Order in Rural and Urban Society

• There are both explicit and implicit boundaries defined for such dissent
and crossing these boundaries invites some form of reaction from
society, usually from the law enforcement authorities.

• Though political parties respect the same constitution. But different
political parties respect the same Constitution. But different political

parties may have different agendas.

Crime
• The notion of crime is strictly derived from the law.

• A crime is an act that violates an existing law.
• It goes beyond the boundary of legitimate dissent by law.

• Most of acts may claim to be breaking it for the highest moral reasons.

• Ex- Mahatma Gandhi broke the Salt law of the British govt. at Dandi. He
was committing a crime and he was arrested for it.
• He committed this crime deliberately and the Indian people were also

proud of him and what he stood for.

• There are many other kinds of crime that cannot claim any great moral
virtue.
• Going beyond the boundary of legitimate dissent as defined by the law

leads to crime.

Violence
➢ It is the enemy of social order.

➢ An extreme form of contestation that transgress not only law but also
important social norms.

➢ Violence in society is the product of social tensions.
➢ It is also a challenge to the authority of the state.

➢ It is an act that can involve physical, mental or emotional harm.
➢ It can be classified as legal and illegal.

Legal- legitimate use of violence is the monopoly of the state within its
jurisdiction. State may lawfully use violence through its authorised
functionaries.

Illegal- All other acts are termed as illegal. There are exceptions like self-
defence meant for extra-ordinary and rare situation. Technically state is