How violence happens (or not)

TY - JOUR

T1 - How violence happens (or not)

AU - Bramsen, Isabel

PY - 2018/1

Y1 - 2018/1

N2 - Objective: Recent studies show that violence is difficult to accomplish and only occurs under particular situational circumstances—but does this also apply to protests in authoritarian regimes? This article investigates the microdynamics of violence during the antiregime protests in Tunisia, Syria, and Bahrain. Method: The argument is based on visual data analysis of video footage of violent and nonviolent interactions from the uprisings in Bahrain, Tunisia, and Syria, as well as human rights reports, interviews with participants of demonstrations, and observation of a demonstration. Results: The article shows how violence by the state and protesters occurred when the perpetrator attacked from afar/above, from behind, at night, or from a vehicle, or attacked the outnumbered. In a few situations, violence was avoided when protesters confronted the security forces face to face. Conclusions: The article supports Randall Collins’s argument (2008) that situational conditions allowing the perpetrator to overcome barriers of tension and fear are necessary for violence to occur, even in authoritarian regimes. However, situational dynamics can explain how but not why violence occurs, and Collins’s guidelines for activists of how to avoid police violence are no panacea in authoritarian regimes.

AB - Objective: Recent studies show that violence is difficult to accomplish and only occurs under particular situational circumstances—but does this also apply to protests in authoritarian regimes? This article investigates the microdynamics of violence during the antiregime protests in Tunisia, Syria, and Bahrain. Method: The argument is based on visual data analysis of video footage of violent and nonviolent interactions from the uprisings in Bahrain, Tunisia, and Syria, as well as human rights reports, interviews with participants of demonstrations, and observation of a demonstration. Results: The article shows how violence by the state and protesters occurred when the perpetrator attacked from afar/above, from behind, at night, or from a vehicle, or attacked the outnumbered. In a few situations, violence was avoided when protesters confronted the security forces face to face. Conclusions: The article supports Randall Collins’s argument (2008) that situational conditions allowing the perpetrator to overcome barriers of tension and fear are necessary for violence to occur, even in authoritarian regimes. However, situational dynamics can explain how but not why violence occurs, and Collins’s guidelines for activists of how to avoid police violence are no panacea in authoritarian regimes.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

U2 - 10.1037/vio0000178

DO - 10.1037/vio0000178

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2152-0828

VL - 8

SP - 305

EP - 315

JO - Psychology of Violence

JF - Psychology of Violence

IS - 3

M1 - 1

ER -