Determinants of Political Violence: A Study of the Literature

Abstract

Political violence is a complex phenomenon that is induced by numerous factors. The article focuses on trying to identify and organize the sources of political violence. Three groups of determinants of political violence can be distinguished on the basis of the examined social science literature. The first group of determinants of political violence – referred to as structural determinants – is examined by researchers within the social structure. Cultural patterns and norms operating within the dominant culture or subculture form the second group of sources of violence, referred to as cultural determinants of violence. The third group – individual or socio-psychological determinants of violence in politics – could be observed in individual factors, usually subjective, related to emotions.