Media platforms have circulated footage of the Kuwait Municipality team’s demolition of various illegal buildings, one of which belonged to an ex-member of the Kuwaiti Parliament. This news was well-received by the general public, and their reaction was consistent with the overall feeling of optimism for the well of reform. However, the question that needs to be asked at the beginning of this era is: why do some people choose to break the law in the first place? 

In some cases, a few individuals may choose to break the law intentionally with the aim of committing acts of aggression. On the other hand, some violate the law when the perceived inadequacy of the regulations does not seem to serve the public good and address people’s needs. 

The lack of trust in legislators and lawmakers may lead to a belief that regulations are not there to serve the public good, and consequently it encourages people to break them. Thus, building trust in lawmakers and taking care to promulgate logical laws with clear goals should lead to more compliance. 

Similarly, fairness and impartiality in law enforcement should be straightforward and reflect the principles of right and wrong, and give broader authority and resources to leaders to promote the spirit of the law. This will increase compliance with regulations and enhance the concept of citizenship, which in turn will drive further collaboration among the community to serve the public good. 

Among the causes of defiance is the feeling that violations are widespread, and that the state apparatus is tolerant of them. The spread of ugliness in the public realm is worsened by the existence of cracked sidewalks, broken signage, smashed trash bins, dead plantations, and other elements of the urban environment which give the impression that the public is being neglected, and their needs are not being taken into consideration. 

This phenomenon is confirmed through the ‘Broken Glass’ theory, founded in 1982 by two social scientists, James Q. Wilson, and George L. Kelling. The theory states that if one glass window is left unrepaired, it is to be expected that vandals will attempt to break other windows and may eventually break into the building and occupy it. The same goes for sidewalks, whereby if the litter is left unremoved it will encourage others to throw more rubbish down onto it, eventually leading to the accumulation of bagfuls of refuse. 

Thus, the strengthening of supervisory systems and the speedy accountability of violators will contribute to holding responsible those who would otherwise disrupt the law. To improve the city and to encourage law conformity, competent and honest leaders must be appointed to positions of public service, and a thorough review of laws and regulations is required to ensure they are fit for purpose and address current needs. This must include supporting field officers by equipping them with the authority and resources they require. To improve the public realm, we must fix the broken glass daily.