Political violence stems from complex psychological, sociological, and political factors. These range from individual traits and experiences to group dynamics and structural conditions in society.
Theories like relative deprivation and resource mobilization help explain the drivers of political violence. Poverty, inequality, and weak institutions create fertile ground for conflict by fueling grievances and providing opportunities for violent actors to emerge.
Theories of Political Violence
Factors contributing to political violence
- Psychological factors play a significant role in individual propensity towards violence
- Certain personality traits (aggression, impulsivity) can increase likelihood of engaging in violence
- Traumatic experiences, especially exposure to violence in childhood, can lead to desensitization and normalization of violence
- Intense emotions like anger, frustration, and humiliation can trigger violent responses when left unchecked
- Sociological factors shape the social context in which violence occurs
- Group dynamics exert powerful influence on individual behavior through conformity and peer pressure
- Strong social identity and sense of belonging to a group can override individual moral constraints against violence
- Marginalization and social exclusion breed resentment and alienation that can fuel violent ideologies
- Political factors create the structural conditions that enable or constrain violence
- Lack of legitimate channels for political participation and representation can drive groups to resort to violence
- Repressive state policies (arbitrary arrest, torture) and human rights abuses erode trust in institutions and provoke backlash
- Grievances arising from perceived injustice and inequality provide motivation and justification for political violence
Drivers of political violence
- Ideology serves as a powerful driver of political violence
- Provides a coherent worldview and framework for interpreting social and political reality
- Offers moral justification for the use of violence as a legitimate means to achieve political goals
- Potent examples include nationalism (Kosovo conflict), religious fundamentalism (ISIS), and revolutionary ideologies (Shining Path)
- Grievances arising from perceived injustice and deprivation fuel resentment and anger
- Can be rooted in economic factors (poverty, unemployment), political factors (disenfranchisement, corruption), or social factors (discrimination, racism)
- Examples include the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and the Zapatista uprising in Mexico
- Group dynamics shape individual behavior and can amplify tendencies towards violence
- Collective identity fosters a strong sense of solidarity and loyalty among group members
- Peer pressure and desire to conform to group norms can override individual moral constraints
- Dehumanization and demonization of the "other" lowers inhibitions against violence (Rwandan genocide)
Theories of political violence
- Relative deprivation theory focuses on the gap between expectations and reality
- Argues that the perception of unfairness and injustice, rather than objective conditions, can lead to frustration and aggression
- Explains political violence as a response to the discrepancy between what people believe they deserve and what they actually have
- Resource mobilization theory emphasizes the importance of organizational resources and networks
- Suggests that political violence is a strategic choice made by rational actors to advance their interests
- Highlights the role of leadership, funding, and access to weapons in enabling sustained campaigns of violence (IRA, FARC)
- Social identity theory illuminates the role of group membership and intergroup relations in conflict
- Posits that individuals derive self-esteem and a sense of worth from their social identity groups
- Explains how the need to maintain a positive social identity can lead to intergroup competition, prejudice, and violence
Structural causes of violence
- Poverty creates conditions of scarcity and deprivation that can fuel violence
- Lack of economic opportunities and access to basic necessities (food, healthcare) breeds desperation and hopelessness
- Limited access to education and social services hinders social mobility and entrenches marginalization
- Impoverished communities are more vulnerable to recruitment by violent groups who exploit their grievances (Boko Haram, Taliban)
- Inequality generates a sense of relative deprivation and resentment among disadvantaged groups
- Reinforces social and political exclusion, as elites monopolize power and resources
- Leads to the perception of systemic injustice and the need for radical change, often through violent means
- Examples include the Naxalite insurgency in India and the Maoist rebellion in Nepal
- Weak state institutions create a power vacuum that can be exploited by violent non-state actors
- Inability to provide basic services (security, healthcare, education) and maintain the rule of law erodes government legitimacy
- Lack of trust in the state and its institutions drives people to seek alternative sources of authority and protection
- Insurgent groups and criminal organizations can step in to fill the void left by absent or dysfunctional state institutions (ISIS in Iraq and Syria)
Structural Factors and Political Violence