Political violence ch7

political violence

-politically motivated violence outside of state control

-Actions carried out by non-state-actors

-Often goal is to become new rulers of the state (regime change)

3 types of explanation regarding the origins/ cases of political violence

-Institutions – provide access, instill grievances, facilitate action

-Ideas – more amenable to violence, justifications for violence

-Individuals – humiliated groups, under-represented

political violence by non-state actors

seeks to transform states or regimes

forms of political violence

riots, assasinations, civil wars, etc revolution, terrorism

Revolution

mass uprising to fundamentally transform the regime, a mass public movement, goal is to seize the state ,removing the regime

terrorism

small group using coercion to seek a change in regime or policy, targets civilians to pressure governments, seeks political goals such as territory

possible causes for revolution

-Relative deprivation: Rapid economic growth creates unmet expectations, triggers resentment.

-Institutions: States weakened by war undergo reforms, creating dissent.

-Organizations: Opponents of regime succeed when they share ideas and have international ties.

possible causes for terrorism

-Religious ideology / apocalyptic beliefs

-belief that the end of the world is near

-Nihilism-Belief that violence is inherently meaningful

-Humiliation and despair

-Only self-worth comes from a terror group

terrorists seek radical restructuring

-target population, rather than try to win them over like guerrillas.

-have expansive goals that are outside mainstream political debate, unlike other social movements

strategic goals include

-disrupting negotiated settlements.

-preventing political and economic development.

differ from guerrilla warfare

-negotiation not possible

- state is illegitimate, goal is regime change

terrorists can undermine legitimacy

-Make governments appear incompetent.

-Highlight dissatisfaction.

terrorists present their views as legitimate

-Claim mandate from community or religion.

-State goals in terms of broader principles.

religious fundamentalism

-Return to (imagined) pristine community

-Replace political ideology with religious law

-Reject uncertainty stemming from rapid social and economic modernization

Fundamentalists sometimes use violence…

-during periods of modernization.

-when doctrine can justify dehumanization.

-where beliefs are utopian or messianic.

states responses to countering terrorists and revolutionaries

fundamental dilemma: repression or reform?

repression

-May eliminate immediate threat

-Leads to more resentment later

reform

-May satisfy some demands

-Can encourage more demands later

Benjamin Valentino: Why we kil: The Political science of political violence against civilians

Argument: Violence against civilians is instrumental and seeks to achieve tangible political or military objectives

previous views: pre1990

-Civilian deaths as collateral damage

• Civilian fatalities the result of ancient hatred/tribal sentiments

Findings

• Focus on governmental exploitation of communal differences

• Recognition of intraethnic violence and violence against moderate coethnics

• Civilians are not merely bystander to armed conflict: intentional targeting

Intentional targeting of civilians

• Insurgents coerce civilians into providing support

• Increase costs on governments in the effort to extract

concessions or to change policy

• Dependency on civilian populations for critical resources

• Killings due to lack of discipline

• Killing to stop the other side from fighting

• Clear territory to eliminate the threat of a rebellion

Elite motivations

• Motives of elites interact with environments

• Shift focus from issues of change to injustices by silencing those who pose the threat to the status quo

• Role of political ideas: communist terror

• But: not all violence against civilians is strategic