QUESTION:
Although the use of violence by and against states displays many features that are specific to particular cultures and situations, there is an underlying ‘logic of violence’ that takes a remarkably similar form in a multitude of different contexts.
ABSTRACT:
For the question at hand – a very complex question – it seems of paramount importance to disentangle its individual components before discovering its coherences.
(...) I shall proceed as follows: First, I will present my understanding of logic – the underlying current giving this paper its direction and drive. Still in the first part, I shall introduce and define various forms of large-scale violence to be kept inside the epistemological frame of this essay. Secondly, this paper will elaborate on ‘the doer behind the deed’. I shall introduce the philosophical traditions and formal features of contemporary states, laying the ground for the contemplation of violence by and against states, government-sponsored and stateperpetrated
crime. Furthermore, to shed light on the ramifications of violence between the so called First and Third World and in order to provide a link between the general and the specific, this paper would expose the international involvement in criminal structures and violent agency. Drawing on the recurrent narratives and forms of violence discussed in the first two parts, the third section will deepen the dynamics of structures and resources that resurface in various contexts of large scale violence. The chosen examples will deal with the ambivalence of legal control and discursive power in their capacity as supportive features to instigate violence.
This essay will conclude on contemplations which elude from a smooth narrative. In my conclusion I should summarize the main arguments and outline the implications resulting from the supposition of a logic of violence. The final part shall also provide an outlook to
some of the many remaining challenges in the context of international human rights and supranational criminology and their pursuit to stop violence.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definitions
2.1 LOGIC, VIOLENCE AND EVIL
2.2 LARGE SCALE VIOLENCE – WAR, CIVIL WAR, TERRORISM AND GENOCIDE
2.2.1 TERRORISM
2.2.2 GENOCIDE
3. The doer behind the deed
3.1 THE STATE
3.2 STATE CRIME AND TERROR, FORCED COMPLIANCE AND ANOMIE
3.2.1 STATE CRIME
3.2.2 FORCED COMPLIANCE
3.2.3 ANOMIE
4. Methods, Discourses and Resources
4.1 THE AMBIVALENCE OF LEGAL CONTROL
4.2 DISCURSIVE POWER
5. CONCLUDING CONTEMPLATIONS
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to explore whether a cross-cultural, underlying "logic of violence" exists, specifically focusing on how states and political actors utilize structures, ideologies, and discourse to legitimize and implement large-scale violence. The investigation seeks to dismantle the simplistic "good vs. evil" rhetoric by examining the rational, planned mechanisms of state-perpetrated crimes.
- The structural and ideological foundations of state-sanctioned violence.
- The relationship between legal systems, discursive power, and the facilitation of atrocities.
- Mechanisms of forced compliance and the role of "anomie" in social breakdown.
- The interplay between sovereignty, nationalism, and the justification of violence.
- Critical analysis of terrorism and genocide as rational, systematic processes.
Excerpt from the Book
DISCURSIVE POWER
A discourse is that which enables speech. Language is in a relation of conflict with morals and inhibitions. It is composed of the utterable and the unspeakable. Language and discourse are inseparable from each other and deeply inform a society’s beliefs, attitudes and conduct. Therein, silence, taboos, linguistic evasions and euphemisms influence possibilities of communication through an absent presence. The schizophrenic world of language and meaning is characterized by constant ambiguity, enigmatic half-truths and destabilized borders. Language is always evolving, flexible and absconds from total control.
New words can create new realities as they make things come into being. The classic example is Krafft-Ebing’s Psychopathia Sexualis as the ‘creation’ of a homosexual identity in medical and legal discourse, resulting in the acknowledgement of thitherto politically marginal and deviant identities (Johnson, 2009). It illustrates the defining power of words. A name, a label and identity create the reality of representation and rights, whereas a ‘problem that has no name’ is hard to tackle.
To hold discursive power is to create a state of mind – in the literal and figurative sense. Now, how does this relate to the logic of violence? How can perpetrators of violence capitalize on the structures and effects of meanings?
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the complexity of defining core terms like violence, power, and the state, establishing a framework to explore the "logic of violence" as a structural arrangement.
2. Definitions: This chapter provides a conceptual basis by defining logic, violence, and evil, while examining how terrorism and genocide function as distinct forms of large-scale, systematic violence.
3. The doer behind the deed: This section investigates the state's role in perpetrating violence, analyzing how nationalism, sovereignty, state crime, and the resulting social anomie create conditions for mass atrocities.
4. Methods, Discourses and Resources: This chapter focuses on the instrumental use of law and language to justify violent practices, desensitize perpetrators, and manage public perception through euphemistic and coercive discourse.
5. CONCLUDING CONTEMPLATIONS: The conclusion synthesizes the main arguments, reflecting on the potential of interdisciplinary research to hold states accountable and dismantle the mechanisms that enable violent agency.
Keywords
Logic of violence, State-sanctioned violence, Genocide, Terrorism, Sovereignty, Nationalism, Discursive power, Legal control, Anomie, Forced compliance, State crime, Human rights, Political intimidation, Ideology, Collective evildoing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the "logic of violence" to determine if there is a cross-cultural, systematic pattern in how states and powerful entities organize and justify large-scale violence, such as genocide and terrorism.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include the structural role of the state in violence, the manipulation of legal frameworks, the power of discourse and language to redefine moral boundaries, and the impact of nationalism and sovereignty.
What is the overarching research goal?
The goal is to move beyond simplistic moral judgments of "good and bad" to understand the rational, planned mechanisms that allow violence to be systematically implemented in diverse contexts.
Which methodology is employed in this work?
The work utilizes a structural and formal analysis, drawing on philosophical, sociological, and criminological perspectives to investigate how recurring patterns of institutional behavior facilitate violent acts.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body explores the definition of violence, the state's role as a perpetrator, the concept of "anomie" in normless societies, the abuse of legal control, and the creation of reality through language and discourse.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is characterized by keywords such as logic of violence, state-sanctioned violence, discursive power, genocide, terrorism, and the critique of state sovereignty.
How does the author define the "logic of violence"?
The author understands the logic of violence as a structural arrangement characterized by both distance from and proximity to its subjects—human life and death—often managed through intelligent manipulation by powerful elites.
What is the significance of the "doer behind the deed" in this context?
This section is crucial because it shifts the focus from individual perpetrators to the state itself, explaining how bureaucratic structures, legal tools, and ideological narratives are used to provide the motive, impetus, and legitimation for mass violence.
How does the paper explain the concept of "anomie"?
Anomie is presented as a condition of normlessness and social disorder—often triggered by rapid change or conflict—where violence becomes a "logical" or forced choice for survival within a society.
- Citar trabajo
- Zuzanna Szutenberg (Autor), 2012, The Logic of Violence, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/201548
