SlugAtlasUC Santa Cruz

LGST 129AWhy Obey?

5 creditsGE TAUndergraduateStudent Option

We are everyday confronted with countless expectations of obedience—at home, work, while studying or at worship; with parents, teachers, the police. Some demands are formal and public, others are informal, unwritten norms, or habitual codes of conduct. Basic observation of the vast range of rules, norms, and codes that demand compliance invites a range of questions, from a diverse set of perspectives. In response to this challenge, this course examines the theory and practice of disobedience across a range of time periods and contexts. Course considers examples of conscientious objection, riots, strikes, direct action and the like, ultimately seeking to answer: why and how do people disobey?

Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.

When it runs

Fall 2026Open Fall 2026

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Lecture
Tue Thu 5:20pm–6:55pm
Earth&Marine B206R. NicholsWait List 106/120

Who teaches it

InstructorRatingDifficultyWould take againReviews
Robert Nichols4.2 / 53.6 / 560%5

From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.

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