Chapter #5: Political Violence

Political Violence

Violence outside of state control that is politically motivated.

Ideational Explanations

Certain ideologies (ideas) promote violent actions.

Ex. Reactionary or radical attitudes, fundamentalism, and nationalism.

Revolution

Public seizure of the state in order to overturn the existing government and regime.

Relative Deprivation Model

Predicts revolution when public expectations outpace the rate of domestic change.

Terrorism

The use of violence by non-state actors against civilians in order to achieve a political goal.

State-Sponsored Terrorism

Terrorism supported directly by a state as an instrument of foreign policy.

Guerilla War

A conflict where non-state combatants who largely abide by the rules of war target the state.

State-Sponsored War Crimes

A state targeting civilians of another state, comparing forms of violence.

Nihilism

The belief that all institutions and values are essentially meaningless and the only redeeming value a person can embrace is violence.