VIOLENCE IN AMERICA - SPONTANEITY AND STRATEGY (FROM URBAN GUERRILLA - STUDIES ON THE THEORY, STRATEGY AND PRACTICE OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN MODERN SOCIETIES, 1974, BY J NIEZING - SEE NCJ-27988)

• NCJ Number: 27992
• Author(s): R KROES
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Rotterdam University Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

THIS PAPER FOCUSES ON VIOLENCE IN AMERICA IN THE 1960'S, ESPECIALLY THE STRATEGIES OF VIOLENT GROUPS AND THE RELATION OF STRATEGY TO OUTCOME.

Abstract

THE VARIETIES OF VIOLENCE WHICH THE '60'S HAVE PRODUCED ARE OUTLINED. THE PATTERNS OF INTERDEPENDENCE SHOWN BY THESE VARIETIES ARE INDICATED, AND THE PROBLEM OF SPONTANEITY AND STRATEGY IN THE USE OF VIOLENCE IS DISCUSSED. THE INCIDENCE AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE USE OF VIOLENCE IN RECENT AMERICAN HISTORY ARE EVALUATED. IN THE AUTHOR'S OPINION, THE ONLY GROUP TO HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY ACTED OUT ITS DREAMS OF VIOLENCE AND GUERRILLA WARFARE DURING THE SIXTIES HAS BEEN WEATHERMAN. IN A SENSE, IT HAS SERVED TO CONFIRM WHAT RIGHT-WING SENTIMENT HAD SUSPECTED ALL ALONG. IT HAS BEEN THE SHORT-LIVED AND SHORT-SIGHTED WORSHIP OF THE AMERICAN IDOL, CALLED THE HERE-AND-NOW. IT TRAGICALLY CONTRASTS WITH AND HAS SERVED TO DAMPEN THE LONGER-RANGE AND CUMBERSOME TASK OF ORGANIZING THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT IN THE US. IT HAS ALIENATED RATHER THAN SERVED TO WIN OVER TO THEIR SIDE LARGE PARTS OF THE POPULATION. THE MOVEMENT, OR WHATEVER REMNANTS STILL EXIST, IS EMPTY-HANDED AND NAKED. STREAKING MAY BE ALL THAT IS 'LEFT'. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)