NCJ Number
61467
Journal
Journal of Conflict Resolution Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 499-534
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
INADEQUACIES OF CURRENT THEORIES ON COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE ARE DESCRIBED, AND ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF RESEARCH DESIGN, DATA COLLECTION, AND EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS ARE PROPOSED.
Abstract
MOST CURRENT RESEARCH ON THE DETERMINANTS OF COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ANALYZE THE AVAILABLE DATA AND CONTINUES TO USE CONVENTIONAL METHODOLOGIES WITH DECREASINGLY SUCCESSFUL RESULTS. THEORIES OF 'RELATIVE DEPRIVATION' DESCRIBE HOW THE GAP BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE-NOTS PRODUCES DISCONTENT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE. THEORIES OF 'RESOURCE MOBILIZATION' EMPHASIZE THE ROLE OF ORGANIZATION OF DISCONTENTED PERSONS AND THEIR INTERACTIONS. HOWEVER, EXPLANATIONS BASED ON THE RELATIVE DEPRIVATION CONCEPT OFTEN IGNORE OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS, SUCH AS THE ROLE OF THE STATE. RESEARCH MOBILIZATION THEORIES ARE USUALLY MORE INCLUSIVE BUT FAIL TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SPONTANEOUS OCCURRENCES OF EVENTS AND THE INFLUENCE OF INDIVIDUALS. IN DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE EMPIRICAL STRATEGIES THAT WILL SUCCESSFULLY BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN EVIDENCE AND INTERPRETATION, RESEARCHERS FIND PROBLEMS IN MEASURING DATA AND ANALYZING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SETS OF VARIABLES. THE EMPHASIS, HOWEVER, IS ON DISSECTING ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE, RATHER THAN THEORIZING ON A BROAD SCALE. SUGGESTED TECHNIQUES INCLUDE TIME SERIES ANALYSES, IN WHICH SPECIFIC ELEMENTS, SUCH AS WAGES, ARE MEASURED AT PERIODIC INTERVALS. METHODS ARE GIVEN FOR SELECTING DATA CONCERNING THE ROLE OF GROUPS IN COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE, AND PROBLEMS OF DATA INTERPRETATION ARE DISCUSSED. ALTHOUGH THE ARTICLE DESCRIBES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ITS PROPOSALS COULD BE USED TO STUDY INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL CHANGE. AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REFERENCES IS APPENDED. (MJM)