Criminal Justice 121

National Research CouncilUnderstanding Violence

National Research CouncilUnderstanding Violence

“behaviors by individuals that intentionally threaten, attempt, or inflict physical harm on others.” (p.2)

“behaviors by individuals that intentionally threaten, attempt, or inflict physical harm on others.” (p.2)

We recognize this as Violence

We recognize this as Violence

And probably thisAnd probably this

And this…And this…

But is this violence?But is this violence?

Is poverty violence?Is poverty violence?

Is spanking violence?

Is spanking violence?

Are threatening

words violence?

Are threatening

words violence?

Is war violence?Is war violence?

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American Heritage Dictionary

American Heritage Dictionary

1. Physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing: crimes of violence.

2. The act or an instance of violent action or behavior.

3. Intensity or severity, as in natural phenomena; untamed force: the violence of a tornado.

4. Abusive or unjust exercise of power.5. Abuse or injury to meaning, content, or

intent: do violence to a text. 6. Vehemence of feeling or expression; fervor.

1. Physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing: crimes of violence.

2. The act or an instance of violent action or behavior.

3. Intensity or severity, as in natural phenomena; untamed force: the violence of a tornado.

4. Abusive or unjust exercise of power.5. Abuse or injury to meaning, content, or

intent: do violence to a text. 6. Vehemence of feeling or expression; fervor.

Is violence the same thing as

power?

Is violence the same thing as

power?Power, says Voltaire, is compelling people to act as I choose.

Hannah ArendtHannah Arendt

“Power and violence are opposites where one rules absolutely, the other is absent”

“Power and violence are opposites where one rules absolutely, the other is absent”

Power needs LegitimacyPower needs Legitimacy

Power needs numbers, it needs support by the many. Violence does not necessarily need numbers. It can be carried out by one by the few over the many

Power needs numbers, it needs support by the many. Violence does not necessarily need numbers. It can be carried out by one by the few over the many

What kind of violence does the state possess?

What kind of violence does the state possess?

“rule of men over men based on the means of legitimate, that is allegedly legitimate, violence.” Max Weber

“rule of men over men based on the means of legitimate, that is allegedly legitimate, violence.” Max Weber

Rage and Violence Rage and Violence

rage and violence as natural emotions. to cure them would mean to dehumanize man. rage and violence are irrational only when directed against substitutes

rage and violence as natural emotions. to cure them would mean to dehumanize man. rage and violence are irrational only when directed against substitutes

Violence TodayViolence Today

violence increases as our capacity to exercise power, to act, decreases in global society…every decrease in power is an open invitation to violence

violence increases as our capacity to exercise power, to act, decreases in global society…every decrease in power is an open invitation to violence

What this course will argue, and you are most welcome to disagree, is that violence has increased dramatically as the western powers have asserted their dominance over the globe.

Violence is a broad concept, but its extent today is deeply tied to notions of western and white supremacy and the fear, mainly by European peoples, of the “other.” Chicago is a good example of the types of American violence.

What this course will argue, and you are most welcome to disagree, is that violence has increased dramatically as the western powers have asserted their dominance over the globe.

Violence is a broad concept, but its extent today is deeply tied to notions of western and white supremacy and the fear, mainly by European peoples, of the “other.” Chicago is a good example of the types of American violence.