violent than others? Manuel Eisner Wolfson Professor of Criminology - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

I NSTITUTE OF C RIMINOLOGY What makes some societies more violent than others? Manuel Eisner Wolfson Professor of Criminology Director, Violence Research Centre Deputy Director, Institute of Criminology

How much do societies differ in how violent they are?

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War 100 Homicide 10-100 Violent Homicide Rate per 100,000 Rate: Societies The number 10 of murders per 100,000 1-10 Semi-Pacified of the Societies population. 1 < 1 Pacified Societies 0.1 1400 1600 1800 2000

The Human Societies Homicide Scale 10x > 100 Civil War 100 Homicide 10-100 Violent Homicide Rate per 100,000 Rate: 10x Societies The number 10 of murders per 100,000 1-10 Semi-Pacified 10x of the Societies population. 1 < 1 Pacified 10x Societies 0.1 1400 1600 1800 2000

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War 100 The homicide 10-100 Violent Homicide Rate per 100,000 rate of 198 Societies countries. 10 Current Global Homicide Rate = 6.4 WHO figures (430,000 deaths per year, 7.7 Million since 2000) and estimates, 1-10 Semi-Pacified around 2005 Societies 1 < 1 Pacified Societies 0.1 1400 1600 1800 2000

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War 100 Honduras The Jamaica homicide 10-100 Violent Homicide Rate per 100,000 rate of 198 Mexico Societies The most violent countries. societies have about Uganda 10 500 times more WHO figures USA and estimates, homicides than the 1-10 Semi-Pacified around 2005 most peaceful Societies Sri Lanka societies United Kingdom 1 Switzerland < 1 Pacified Singapore Societies 0.1 1400 1600 1800 2000

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War 100 Honduras 10 % world population Jamaica 10-100 Violent 45% homicides Homicide Rate per 100,000 Mexico Societies Uganda 10 USA 1-10 Semi-Pacified Societies Sri Lanka United Kingdom 1 Switzerland < 1 Pacified Singapore Societies 0.1 1400 1600 1800 2000

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War 100 Violence is Honduras 10 % world population very Jamaica 10-100 Violent 45% homicides unequally Homicide Rate per 100,000 Mexico Societies distributed across the Uganda 10 world. USA 1-10 Semi-Pacified Societies Sri Lanka United Kingdom 1 45 % world population Switzerland 9% homicides < 1 Pacified Singapore Societies 0.1 1400 1600 1800 2000

Map of the World by Homicides (WHO recorded homicides 2002, www.worldmapper.org)

Map of the World by Research Output (Published papers in 2001 www.worldmapper.org)

How do violent and peaceful societies differ?

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War In the most Homicide as Politics violent 100 societies Corruption Honduras homicide State violence Jamaica 10-100 Violent Organised crime serves Homicide Rate per 100,000 Mexico Societies Poverty/Inequality political goals. Uganda 10 It is related USA 1-10 Semi-Pacified to male Societies Sri Lanka control, United Kingdom power, Homicide as Pathology 1 profit, and Switzerland Rule of Law reputation. < 1 Pacified Social Integration Singapore Education and Self-Control Societies Trust in Authorities 0.1 1400 1600 1800 2000

How do societies become more violent and more peaceful? A Tale of Two Islands: What can we Learn from Historical Homicide Trends in Jamaica and Singapore? Manuel Eisner, contribution to 2019 UNODC Global Homicide Report.

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War 100 10-100 Violent Homicide Rate per 100,000 Societies 10 1-10 Semi-Pacified Societies 1 < 1 Pacified Societies 0 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040

The Human Societies Homicide Scale > 100 Civil War Why did Singapore 100 Violent clientelistic politics and Politicised civil service Jamaica 10-100 Violent Distrusted violent police Homicide Rate per 100,000 Persistent poverty Societies move in different 10 directions since 1-10 Semi-Pacified Societies about 1960? 1 Control of corruption Investment in education/health < 1 Pacified Professional police Societies Low segregation 0 1840 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 2040

Cattivo Governo To wrap up The most violent societies have about 500-1000 times more homicides than the least violent societies. In extremely violent societies the rule of law breaks down and the state no longer provides protection. Societies become violent or peaceful over time. Poor policy decisions matter. Ambroglio Lorenzetti Allegoria del Buon Governo , 1338-1339, Sala della Pace, Palazzo Pubblico, Siena