Political Motivated Violence: Causes and Forms

Political motivated Violence - Outside of state control - Actions carried out by non-state actors - Includes violent forms of “contentious politics.” - Revolutions - Civil war - Riots - Strikes Causes of Political Violence - Why do people engage in violence in some times and places, but not in others? - Three kinds of explanations - Institutional - Ideational - Individual Institutional - Some institutions create violence by marginalizing populations - Some institutions reduce violence by promoting inclusion Institutional - For example, winner take all elections sometimes produce marginalization, polarization, and Conflict - Under these conditions, some see political violence as a logical reaction because other forms Of participation are blocked Ideational - Ideas set out a worldview, diagnose problems, provide resolutions, and describe a means to Achieving goals - Any of these things can inspire people to violence Individual - Two approaches - Psychological: Individual experiences drive people to violence - Rational: Violence is a strategy to achieve goals Forms of Violence - Revolution - Public seizure of the state to overturn the existing government and regime Causes of Revolutions - Relative deprivation model: rapid economic growth creates unmet expectations, triggers Resentment - Criticism: Poor predictability - Institutions: international and domestic political competition create opening for dissent - Criticism: neglects role of individuals and ideas Terrorism - Use of violence and intimidation by non-state actors against civilians to achieve A political goal - Carried out by non-state actors - State-sponsored terrorism is often carried out through proxies - Targets civilians - Has a political goal or intent