This document contains the instructions and topics for discussion in a political science course on political violence. It lists terms and concepts related to political violence that students should think about and categories they should use to group their thoughts. It then outlines various types of political violence like revolutions, insurgencies, terrorism and non-violent resistance that will be covered in the class. Students are prompted with discussion questions under each topic.

1. POL 252
Fall 2014

3. INSTRUCTIONS:
What comes to mind when you think of “political violence?”
Write down associated terms and concepts,
then share with others around you.
Group your thoughts into categories
(e.g. political causes of political violence)
and be ready to share with the class.

5.  Institutions
 Subtypes: Political, Economic, Social
 How do they promote political violence?
 Ideas
 How do they promote political violence?
 Relationship to Status Quo
 Individuals
 How do they promote political violence?
 Psychology vs. Rationality

6.  Approach to Free Will
 Institutions
 Ideas
 Individuals
 Generalizability
 Institutions
 Ideas
 Individuals

9. Target of
Violence
State Citizens
State Interstate War Law Enforcement,
Oppression
Citizens Insurgency, Coup,
Revolution
Terrorism, Crime
Initiator of
Violence

11.  “Normal” form of contentious politics
 What is civil society?
 Organization over time with common purpose
 Leadership and grassroots elements

13.  How should we define this term?
 Duration? Actors? Goals? Result?
 Types of Revolutions:
 Social
 Political
 Anti-Colonial
 “Third World”

14. SOCIAL REVOLUTION
 Major changes in societal
distribution of power and
resources
 Example: Marxism
 Proletariat vs. Bourgeoisie
 Result: Socialism
POLITICAL REVOLUTION
 Changes political structures
 Sudden events
 What is a coup d’etat?
 Importance of Coups
 Why do coups happen?
▪ #1: Society
▪ #2: Military Organization
▪ #3: Military Leader

15. ANTI-COLONIAL REVOLUTION
 Individuals or groups rise
up against colonial rulers
“THIRD WORLD” REVOLUTION
 Occur in developing world
 Overlap with political and
social revolutions
 Should this really be a
separate category?
The decade-long Maputo Revolution
in Mozambique ended Portuguese rule.

18.  Many types of activity fall under this category
 Guerilla Warfare, Riots, Resistance Movements
 What is guerilla warfare?
 What are riots?

21.  (1) Who or what is perpetuating violence
 (2) Who or what is target of violence
 (3) Goals, purposes, consequences of actions
 Does your definition meet these criteria?
 How about this definition?
 “Terrorism is the deliberate creation and exploitation
of fear through violence or the threat of violence in
the pursuit of political change.”

24.  Demonstrative vs. DestructiveTerrorism
 What strategies can terrorists employ?
 Coercion
 Provocation
 Spoiling
 Outbidding

25.  Coercion
 Policy change through threatening target
 Civilian deaths and casualties; Directed at Democracies
 Provocation
 Provoke response from target govt. (e.g. 9/11)
 Uncertainty at home and target response
 Spoiling
 Sabotage talks between target and home moderates
 Can opposition really be trusted?
 Outbidding
 Networks compete for political support
 “Anything you can terrorize, I can terrorize better”

31.  “Weapons of the Weak”
 Work slowdowns, stoppages, boycotts, etc.
 Marginalized groups gain political
participation

34.  Relative Deprivation and Social Disequilibrium
 What is relative deprivation?
 Disrupt Equilibrium  Discontent  Revolution
 Resource Mobilization and Political Opportunities
 What is absolute deprivation?
 Importance of State breakdown
 Rational Choice
 Individual Decision-Making
 What is the “free-rider” problem?
 Cultural Explanations
 What is a frame? Where do they come from?
 Revolutions through citizen/societal discontent