steve on Nostr: “The Logic of Violence in Civil War” by Stathis N. Kalyvas ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ...
“The Logic of Violence in Civil War” by Stathis N. Kalyvas
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It’s widely observed that wars, particularly civil wars, are fraught with violence. What purpose does such barbarity serve when we fight amongst ourselves? Kalyvas, a Greek political scientist who taught at Oxford, attempts to answer this daunting question. Following an exhaustively researched study, he concludes that violence isn’t an outcome or resultant of otherwise peaceful preconditions—it is an inherently human process. While violence is often applied indiscriminately, Kalyvas hypothesizes that such acts are self-defeating in the long term context of a civil war. Selective violence (specifically, violence that is perceived as selective) is thus more effective at garnering control over a territory and population. He lays out a cyclical theory: control fosters collaboration, collaboration yields information, information is used to selectively apply violence, and selectively applied violence generates more control. While Kalyvas’ theory for violence is limited in its scope, the taxonomy he created is useful for discussing the purpose of violence in any conflict. Rather than getting hung-up on moral impediments, this book takes a sober look at our violent reality and explains why it will continue to be so. ⚔️
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It’s widely observed that wars, particularly civil wars, are fraught with violence. What purpose does such barbarity serve when we fight amongst ourselves? Kalyvas, a Greek political scientist who taught at Oxford, attempts to answer this daunting question. Following an exhaustively researched study, he concludes that violence isn’t an outcome or resultant of otherwise peaceful preconditions—it is an inherently human process. While violence is often applied indiscriminately, Kalyvas hypothesizes that such acts are self-defeating in the long term context of a civil war. Selective violence (specifically, violence that is perceived as selective) is thus more effective at garnering control over a territory and population. He lays out a cyclical theory: control fosters collaboration, collaboration yields information, information is used to selectively apply violence, and selectively applied violence generates more control. While Kalyvas’ theory for violence is limited in its scope, the taxonomy he created is useful for discussing the purpose of violence in any conflict. Rather than getting hung-up on moral impediments, this book takes a sober look at our violent reality and explains why it will continue to be so. ⚔️