Violence: Situation, Speciality, Politics, and Storytelling

This book explores the concept of violence from a sociological standpoint, offering four ways of understanding it: violence as situation, violence as speciality, violence as politics, and violence as storytelling. It is essential reading for criminologists, sociologists, and philosophers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 29 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate and multifaceted concept of violence, exploring its various interpretations, applications, definitions, and explorations by social researchers and thinkers. Rather than offering a definitive answer to the question of what violence is or how it should be explained or prevented, it presents a diverse range of insightful perspectives and theoretical frameworks. The book begins by outlining four distinct ways of understanding violence:

Violence as Situation: This approach emphasizes the tension between category-driven and situational explanations of violence. It explores how social categories and structures shape individuals' perceptions and responses to violence, while also recognizing the importance of contextual factors and individual experiences in shaping violent outcomes.

Violence as Speciality: This section focuses on the study of particularly violent actors and their motivations, behaviors, and consequences. It explores how childhood histories, technologies, institutions, culture, class, and gender influence the formation and perpetration of violence. By examining the lives and experiences of violent individuals, the book seeks to understand the factors that contribute to their violent behavior and the potential for intervention and rehabilitation.

Violence as Politics: This chapter examines political violence and its relationship to power, governance, and social movements. It explores how political systems, ideologies, and power dynamics contribute to the emergence and perpetration of violence, as well as the strategies and tactics employed by both political actors and social movements to address and resist violence.

Violence as Storytelling: This section explores the representations of violence in various forms of media, including literature, film, television, and popular culture. It examines how narratives shape our understanding of violence, the ethical implications of depicting violence, and the ways in which violence is used to convey messages and promote social change.

In conclusion, this book offers a unique and experimental approach to discussing and reconstructing the concept of violence. It is essential reading for criminologists, sociologists, and philosophers alike, as it provides valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of violence and its implications for society. By exploring violence from multiple perspectives and employing a range of theoretical frameworks, the book contributes to our understanding of this critical social phenomenon and opens up new avenues for research and intervention.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032204383