ABSTRACT
Conscientious objection has long constituted a popular and interesting case study, particularly within the study of political philosophy, morality and ethics. In philosophical works providing justifications for following personal moralities, political theorists have examined conscientious objection in the context of obedience to the law, mainly in liberal regimes, and specifically in Israel, where compulsory military service creates a myriad of social and ethical issues. The chapter suggests that the need to broaden the spectrum of populations for legal consciousness research. Many different groups of people who violate the law for ideological purposes have reconstructed the social control imposed on them by downplaying, or negating, the legal violation involved in their actions, and by accentuating moral, nationalistic or other alternative frameworks. The findings suggest the possibility of a supplementary structure to the legal consciousness model developed by Patricia Ewick and Susan S. Silbey.
