DIVERSITIES OF VIOLENCE AND THE CURRENT WORLD SYSTEM (FROM CIVIL VIOLENCE AND THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM - PART 1 - THE SCOPE OF CIVIL VIOLENCE, 1977 - SEE NCJ-63431)

• NCJ Number: 63432
• Author(s): W LAQUEUR
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Institute for Strategic Studies
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THE LARGE-SCALE REVIVAL OF MOVEMENTS SPONSORING POLITICAL VIOLENCE REFLECTS THE WEAKNESS OF THE ESTABLISHED ORDER AND DEPRECIATION OF TRADITIONAL VALUES.

Abstract

DIVERSITIES OF VIOLENCE ARE DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT WORLD SYSTEM, AND THEY ARE SUBDIVIDED INTO TRADITIONAL AND MODERN GROUPS. TRADITIONAL VIOLENCE ENCOMPASSES NATIONAL LIBERATION STRUGGLES, CLASS STRUGGLE, AND INDUSTRIAL CONFLICTS, WHEREAS MODERN VIOLENCE IS COMPOSED OF ORGANIZED ACTS OF TERROR AND GUERRILLA WARFARE IN A REVOLUTIONARY CONTEXT. THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC UPSURGE IN MODERN POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN RECENT YEARS, AND IT REFLECTS THE WEAKNESS, TIREDNESS, AND SCEPTICISM RELATED TO THE SPIRITUAL CRISIS OF OUR TIME. LOSS OF FAITH HAS LED TO DEPRECIATION OF TRADITIONAL VALUES, AND RESULTED IN PESSIMISM AND BOREDOM. THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE LEVEL OF MATERIAL EXPECTATION, BUT IN THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE. HAVING IGNORED POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE PAST, WE SHOULD NOT EXAGGERATE ITS IMPORTANCES IN THE FUTURE. SIMPLE AND OBVIOUS EXPLANATIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED SINCE THEORIES OF INTERNAL POLICITAL VIOLENCE ARE STILL A NEW FIELD. (MJW)