Defining Political Violence Class 1 - August 4
What are some examples of political violence?
Definition Violence used to achieve political goals
What do you think of when you think of terrorism?
What do you think of when you think of terrorism? Who are the perpetrators? What are their motives?
Consensus definition is difficult to find ● Some aspects are generally agreed upon: ○ Violence or threat of violence, usually at low-levels ○ Carried out by sub-national actors ○ Used to coerce, intimidate or convey some message to a larger audience (or audiences). ○ Carried out for a political goal. ● To what extent do you agree/disagree with these?
Characteristics of terrorist groups ● No defined force or territorial control ● Use symbolic attacks ○ Bombings, kidnappings, hostage-takings, assassinations. ● More extreme than insurgents or non-violent movements
Goals of terrorist groups ● Recruit supporters through attention. ● Punish supporters of opponents. ● Instill fear in population. ● Long-term: large-scale uprising, government overthrow and removal. ○ Ex: Al-Qaeda’s larger goal is to establish Islamic Caliphate across the Middle East and North Africa.
Terrorism is not just for crazy people Famous terrorists:
What do you think of when you think of insurgency? Who are the perpetrators? What are their motives?
Insurgency is an armed uprising against the government ● Carried out by political and military organization. ● Has a degree of local support. ● A number of battle deaths (25-1000) with deaths attributable to both insurgents and the government. ○ Produces civil wars. Do these seem reasonable? Should we add/subtract anything?
Characteristics Goals ● Defined armed ● Direct overthrow of force. the government OR ● Irregular military territorial tactics. secession. ● Desires and administers control over territory.
Famous Insurgents
Government Repression “actual or threatened use of physical sanctions against an individual or organization within the territorial jurisdiction of the state, for the purpose of imposing a cost on the target as well as deterring specific activities and/or beliefs perceived to be challenging to government personnel, practices or institutions” - Goldstein 1978 Is repression possible through legal means?
Characteristics Goals ● Government use of ● Remove opposition violence or force to government rule. against opponents. ● i.e. jailings, extra- judicial killings, measures to prevent organization.
Political Riots ● “intense, sudden, but not entirely unplanned attack by a group of civilians against members of another distinguishable group.” - Horowitz 2001
Characteristics Goals ● Spontaneous ● Vary based on riot uprisings against ● Often outlets for politically ethnic/religious associated targets tension. ● Varying degrees of ● Can have benefit elite involvement. for political entrepreneurs
Examples of Political Riots ● 1960s Race Riots in the US: Watts, Detroit, Newark, etc. ● Ethnic riots in Gujarat, Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, etc. ● 2011 Riots in England (no racial component) ● 1999 WTO Summit Riot in Seattle.
Genocide Ethnic Cleansing ● “a purposeful policy ● Highly politicized designed by one ethnic or definition. religious group to remove by ● “ acts committed with violent and terror-inspiring intent to destroy, in means the civilian whole or in part, a population of another ethnic national, ethnical, racial or religious group from or religious group” - UN certain geographic areas.”
Characteristics Goals ● Systematic ● Elimination of displacement or potential political murder of members rivals in an area. of a group. ● Often coincides with riots or civil wars.
Examples Genocide: Ethnic Cleansing: Holocaust Kosovo 1998-1999 Armenian Genocide Trail of Tears Rwandan Genocide Soviet population expulsions Holodomor Iraqi Civil War
Not political violence (mostly) ● Sporting event riots ● Some mass shootings ● Non-violent demonstrations.
Who uses political violence?
Who uses political violence? Governments: Repression, ethnic cleansing/genocide. Citizens: political opposition (riots, insurgency, terrorism), unorganized masses (riots), lone wolves (terrorism).
Classifying political violence Targets: State Citizens Initiators: State Interstate war (not a part Repression, some genocide of this class) and ethnic cleansing Citizens Insurgency, terrorism, Riots, other genocide and some riots ethnic cleansing, ethnic/religions conflicts.
Variation in citizen against state violence High Low Participation Participation High Insurgency Terrorism Organization Low Riots Politically Organization motivated rampage?
To what extent are these tactics interchangeable? Are there firm boundaries?
Interchangeability between Insurgency and Terrorism ● Used interchangeably in political rhetoric. ● Objective distinctions: Terrorism: Insurgency: small cells, no territorial military organization, seeks control, targets state territory, targets military symbols, civilians, political forces opponents.
Insurgent Terrorism ● Some groups employ both tactics in different areas. ○ Ex. Chechen rebels in Russia, PKK in Turkey, Taliban in Afghanistan.
Terrorist or Freedom Fighter ● Not mutually exclusive if terrorism is considered a tactic. ● Freedom fighter is a normative judgement. ● Terrorist groups need some support. ○ Are freedom fighters in the eyes of at least some. ○ Ex. ANC against Apartheid South Africa, PLO and HAMAS among Palestinians, etc.
Other overlaps Ethnic Riots can lead to ethnic cleansing State-sponsored insurgent groups as repression.
Are distinctions between types of political violence necessary? When are they valid? When are they violated?
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