Kid doesn't want to be in class. Kid hates school. Kid hates the teacher just because he's the teacher. The kid is bored.

Why would the kid not act out, derail, and cause as much disruption as possible if there are no consequences for doing so?

Without consequences, the best "classroom management" is useless. Doesn't matter what the books or "research" says - if a kid says "no" to everything that you ask him to do, your "techniques" and "strategies" aren't going to matter.

Corporal punishment is not the answer. But just talking to them is not the answer, and just talking to their parents is not the answer. There is no guarantee a parent will be on board with you and no guarantee they won't defend their kid. The apple doesn't ever fall far from the tree. Good parents teach their kids how to behave in school in first grade.

Ultimately, you only have as much power as your administration gives you. On a first offense, a kid is warned in my class. Second offense, I have him handwrite a 500 word reflection paper. 3rd offense, detention/written up. If he refuses the reflection paper, detention also. This resets each class. Certain offenses go directly to detention.

Kids don't like detention. It's not the worst thing, but they'll try to avoid it. This is especially true if the consequences eventually escalate. How fast those consequences escalate will be reflected in how much kids fear being written up.

If you are not in a school where writing up kids is supported and encouraged, your hands are, indeed, tied, and your students will be running the classroom. If you are at a very nice school with amicable students, it's not a problem. Otherwise, it's simply not sustainable.