Civil disobedience is occurring in both Ukraine and Venezuela due to conflicts between state power and civil society. In Ukraine, protests began when the president rejected an EU agreement, preferring closer ties to Russia instead. Ongoing protests have faced police repression. In Venezuela, annual inflation over 56%, shortages of currency and goods have led to dissatisfaction, and opposition groups are openly calling for the overthrow of the democratically elected president. The political crises in both countries reflect debates around civil disobedience and the loss of authority of both the state and the rule of law. Civil disobedience can lead to either the construction of a new social pact between society and the state, or civil war if dissent undermines