USES OF VIOLENCE

• NCJ Number: 63535
• Journal: Journal of Conflict Resolution Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1963) Pages: 43-54
• Author(s): H L NIEBURG
• Date Published: 1963
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS 1963 ARTICLE ASSERTS THAT THE RISK OF VIOLENCE IS NECESSARY AND USEFUL IN PRESERVING NATIONAL SOCIETIES. IT INCLUDES FLEXIBILITY AND STABILITY AND FACILITIES PEACEFUL SOCIAL CHANGE.

Abstract

THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE AND THE OCCASIONAL OUTBREAK OF REAL VIOLENCE ARE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, BOTH IN INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL COMMUNITIES. VIOLENCE HAS TWO INEXTRICABLE ASPECTS: ITS ACTUAL USE (POLITICAL DEMONSTRATIONS, SELF-IMMOLATION, SUICIDE, CRIMES OF PASSION, ETC.) OR ITS POTENTIAL USE. THE FUNCTION OF VIOLENCE IS INVESTIGATED, BEGINNING WITH AN OUTLINE OF CONCEPTS SUCH AS CONSENSUS AND COMPETITION. PRIVATE DEMONSTRATIONS OF VIOLENCE ARE ILLEGAL IN ALL DOMESTIC SOCIETIES. TOLERATION IS ACCORDED TO THREATS OF POTENTIAL VIOLENCE, HOWEVER, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS ARE DEMOCRATIC. A VIABLE SYSTEM BASED ON LAW PROTECTS THE CONDITIONS OF GROUP ACTION. THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE AND THE FEAR OF THE BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER ACT TO MODERATE DEMANDS AND POSITIONS, THEREBY SETTING INTO PEACEFUL MOTION THE INFORMAL POLITICAL PROCESSES OF NEGOTIATION, CONCESSION, COMPROMISE, AND AGREEMENT. IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE TENDS TO CREATE STABILITY AND MAINTAIN PEACE BECAUSE THE DANGERS OF ESCALATING INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT INDUCE GREATER RESTRAINT ON THE PART OF NATIONAL LEADERS. NO SYSTEM CAN SURVIVE UNLESS IT CAN LIVE WITH AND ADJUST ITSELF TO THE MANY THREATS OF VIOLENCE WHICH ARE THE BASIS OF SOCIAL CHANGE. ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT OF 'REASON,' AS UNDERSTOOD BY WESTERN PHILOSOPHERS, PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION, CONFLICTS CANNOT BE SOLVED AS MERELY LEGALISTIC, ACADEMIC, OR IDEOLOGICAL ABSTRACTIONS. THE DIMENSIONS OF COMMITMENT TO A CAUSE AND THE IMPLICIT THREAT OF VIOLENCE MAKE SOCIAL CHANGE A REALITY. SPECIFIC EXAMPLES ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE FOUNDING OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE U.S. IN THE 1960'S. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)