The idea that illegal protest may sometimes be justifiable is a complex issue, and the provided materials shed light on different perspectives.
📋 Exam Question
Recommended word limit: 175-300 words
Using the provided material, write a text in which you respond to the idea that illegal protest may sometimes be justifiable.
Text 1:
"When I see these young people staging illegal protests around the world today, I think they are adding to the world’s polarisation rather than bridging the gaps that are dividing us. We need to reflect on what Nobel-Peace-Prize-winning Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said: “If you want peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.”
–Fiona Felicity Farrell, teacher
Text 2:
- Just Stop Oil protesters throwing soup on famous painting in the National Gallery in London
- A protester confronting riot police in Hong Kong
✏️ Model Answer
The idea that illegal protest may sometimes be justifiable is a complex issue, and the provided materials shed light on different perspectives. On one hand, some argue that illegal protests, such as the actions of the "Just Stop Oil" activists or the confrontations with riot police in Hong Kong, are provocative and disruptive. Fiona Felicity Farrell's view, presented in Text 1, suggests that such protests only exacerbate polarization, hindering meaningful dialogue and peacebuilding. She draws from the wisdom of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, emphasizing that peace is achieved through communication, even with those we disagree with. According to this view, illegal protests might worsen societal divisions rather than bridge them, as they can alienate rather than engage opponents.
However, the images in Text 2, depicting the soup-throwing protest at a renowned painting and violent clashes with riot police, illustrate the desperate nature of some movements. For these activists, illegal protests might be seen as the only way to draw attention to urgent issues, particularly when other avenues seem closed off. In some cases, such actions are symbolic of the severity of the situation they are protesting, such as the environmental crisis or political oppression.
While illegal protests can indeed provoke division, they can also serve as a catalyst for necessary change, forcing society to confront uncomfortable truths. In these cases, the question becomes not whether the protest is illegal, but whether it brings attention to an important cause that needs to be addressed. Therefore, while illegal protest should not be the first resort, it may sometimes be justifiable when it leads to greater awareness and potential change in critical circumstances.
3A
In task 1, the writer points to a number of divisions in the modern world: “East–west, north–south, poor–rich, liberal–conservative, climate change denier–green crusader, socialist–capitalist, political party–other political party, believer–nonbeliever, optimist–pessimist, race–other races…”
Choose at least one of these divisions. The division(s) need to be relevant to at least one English-speaking country. Write a text in which you discuss some of the problems the division(s) are creating in the country/countries of your choice.
You may find the material in tasks 1 and 2 relevant when answering this task.
Answer …