Definition of Political Violence
Political violence can be defined as the term for describing violence perpetrated by either governments or persons for the purpose of achieving their political goals. It is believed by a number of individuals and groups that their political systems are never going to answer back to their demands. Therefore, violence is justified and necessary from their viewpoint for achieving their political objectives. For intimidating their public into acquiescence, many governments across the world believe in using violence. Force is also used by the government for defending their country from threats or outside invasion and for conquering territory and coercing outside government. Political violence is either revolutionary or counterrevolutionary (Mamdani, 2002). There are a number of forms in which political violence takes place such as ethnic conflict, genocide, terrorism, torture, capital punishment, famine, police brutality, rebellion, revolution, etc. This essay compares and contrasts two different forms of political violence namely terrorism and revolution. Moreover, it also throws light on the internal and external factors that shape terrorism and revolutions as forms of political violence.
Terrorism is a political violence form which is perpetrated by the weaker side of the conflict. Terrorism may also fall under the category of violence between a state and non- state actor. It can be defined as the intended use of threat of unlawful violence or unlawful violence for inculcating fear, intended to intimidate societies or governments or to coerce for pursuing religious, political or ideological goals. In other words, terrorism is the unlawful use of intimidation and violence particularly against civilians for pursuing political aims. On the other hand, revolution is public seizer of the state for the purpose of overturning the existing regime and government. There is an important role played by public in case of revolution. However, most of the times, violence is involved in revolution. The gap between the actual conditions and public expectations in a country is the reason behind the occurrence of revolution. Revolution has the capability of bringing new forms of economic systems and government and has the capability of resulting in dictatorship and increased state power. Political violence is also the result of insecurity. For example, European slave dealers presented opportunity which acted as the major stimulus for violence between various African communities and within the given community. It crossed the limits of regular warfare and took the form of kidnapping and raiding which in turn increased the element of uncertainty and fear (Rodney, 1973).
Comparison between Terrorism and Revolution
Comparison of terrorism with revolution provides that there are some similarities between them. The ultimate reason behind the occurrence of both the forms is same i.e. when there is gap between the actual conditions and expected conditions. Moreover, for a revolutionary, the main reason behind fighting is the benefit of the people belonging to their nation. The definition of terrorist is also same to a large extend. The only difference is that the terrorists fight only for their own selves. The concepts are similar but the difference is only in the point of view. It is often said that “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”. This quote makes it clear that there is only a difference of viewpoint in the concepts of revolutionary and terrorist. This can further elaborated with the help of example of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. His mission was to spread non- violence and truth among mankind in the place of non- truth and violence (Charak & Gershom, 2016). He is considered to be a revolutionary by Indian and a terrorist by UK based historians. Moreover, coercion plays an important role in both these forms as it enforces public obedience through surveillance and violence.
However, there are some differences between terrorism and revolution. Terrorism is a one- sided violence by non- state actors while revolution is violence between state and non- state actor. Terrorists aim at targeting and killing the civilians. Their basic motive is to assist help themselves of an unpopular minority. On the other hand, a revolutionary is a guided by motivation and time. Motivation constitutes the aim of the revolutionary such as achieving social justice and equality. Moreover, with the passage of time, even terrorists are considered to be revolutionaries. The motives of undertaking terrorism and evulsion are different as a terrorist fights for his own self while a revolutionary fights for the benefit of general public against the government. There is also a difference in the methods used under terrorism and revolution. The methods used by terrorists for the purpose of targeting civilians range from bombings to shootings. Different revolutions make the use of different methods. Some Egyptian revolutions were effective even with peaceful methods such as protests. However, some other revolutions have also made the use of methods ranging from street violence to war. The violence in case of revolution inclines to be focused mainly towards the regime and not towards the civilians. Terrorism and revolution are also different in the intentions of revenge and self- immolation. Terrorists aim at taking revenge through evilness from the other inhabitants while revolution is aimed at self- immolation where they are ready to make a heroic sacrifice of their own lives dedicating it to the inner domain of the community. Both self- immolation and revenge are considered to be the acts of violence which are performed as a duty by responding to the requirements of time for the purpose of securing the life of the nation (Charak & Gershom, 2016).
Similarities between Terrorism and Revolution
However, these forms of political violence are severely affected by some internal and external factors. The internal factors that shape terrorism include illiteracy which leads to denial of right to vote and a number of other advantages of democracy. The illiteracy further results in getting discriminated in the public and leads individuals to suffer from the lack of opportunities. Lack of educational infrastructure and extreme poverty does not allow them to grow further in life (Howard, 2016). When they witness the growth of the people from their own country and other countries, they get frustrated and often turn out to be extremism. Religion also plays an important role in case of terrorism. There are various forms of religious terrorism but the Islamic terrorism is most common.
The external factors shaping terrorism include ethno- nationalism in which a set of population desires to break away from a ruling power or government and create their own state. For the purpose of achieving their desired independent nation, they continue to employ terrorism. Newer generations of such populations are also forcibly involved in such motives. Moreover, discrimination or alienation is also considered to be a diver of terrorism. Also, grievances against some political orders or the lack of political inclusiveness within states cause individuals for creating or joining terrorists groups. The fact that other people across the globe live in representative governments, individuals suffering as a result of living without political representation lead themselves into the arms of terrorism. Furthermore, terrorist organizations establish their activities in areas having poor government or areas that are conflict ridden. This acts as a safe haven for them for the purpose of spreading their ideologies further to various other areas and carries out their violent activities. Such internal and external factors influence the individuals to engage in terrorism resulting in political violence. They feel that their expectations can never be fulfilled and terrorism is the only way with the help of which they can coerce the government for fulfilling all their demands.
As far as revolution is concerned, internal factors include class struggles. Class struggles are considered to be much more than unhappiness of the lower classes or alienation in comparison with the hierarchy. At the time when the class struggle is near the decisive hour, the improvement in the process of dissolution carried on within the ruling class and in the entire old society, assumes a glaring, violent character that the small division of the ruling class cuts itself off and joins the revolutionary class which is supposed to hold future in its hands (Marx & Engels, 1848). However, class struggle is the not the only factor that causes a revolution. The expansions in higher education and the formation of drastic youth networks create a deadly combination for addressing cultural and political issues. Youth rebellions and students in coalition with various other social groups such as peasants, workers and rebellious sailors and soldiers produce widespread violence.
The external actor include political crisis which triggers the launching of revolutions. The social forces that drive revolutions are the political groups that are affected by the political crisis. The changes in the political aspects constitutes a major factor cause of revolutions as it only spreads new ideologies and enforces the beliefs for justifying the rules are forcibly imposed upon the common population. The declines in the access to land for the peasants and wages for the workers are also some of the reasons that result in the formation of groups that fight against the government for their rights. Such groups or networks may be autonomous village organizations, informal neighborhood groups, religious associations, nationalist or ethnic liberation groups. Revolutions also arise as a result of inequalities which triggers a group of population to take step against the unequal acts in the society. Such revolutions are mostly for the purpose of a good cause such as equality, freedom, etc. For example, French Revolution took place in the name of Equality, Liberty and Fraternity (Rodney, 1973).
Therefore, it can be concluded that political violence can take place in a number of different forms. This essay focused specifically on terrorism and revolution which provided that the two forms have some similarities along with some differences. When there is gap between the actual conditions and expected conditions, terrorism and revolution takes place. However, revolutionaries fight for the benefit of people belonging to their nation while terrorists fight only for their own selves. The internal and external factors shaping and terrorism and revolution have also been discussed in this essay which provided that illiteracy, inequality, poverty, religion, lack of opportunities, political issues are the factors that give birth to these forms of political violence.
Reference:
Charak, S. and Gershom, E.N.D.P., 2016. Decolonising the Self: Gandhi and Fanon on Violence and Agency.
Mamdani, M. 2002. When Victims Become Killers. Princeton University Press.
Marx, K. and Engels, F. 1848. Manifesto of the Communist Party. Progress Publishers, Moscow.
Rodney, W. 1973. How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, [Online]. Available at: org/files/3295358-walter-rodney.pdf”>https://abahlali.org/files/3295358-walter-rodney.pdf [Accessed on: 2 May 2018 2018].
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