The Causes and Consequences of Group Violence

These ambitious interdisciplinary articles from the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention at Virginia Tech are wide in scope. . . .The 15 articles are arranged into four sections. 'Perpetrators of Group Violence' surveys street gangs, online hate groups, genocide, state and anti-state violence, and terrorism as performance. The three chapters in 'The Victims of Group Violence' examine bullying based on gender and weight, youth exposure to Internet hate speech, and intra-group violence among Sri Lankan Tamils. 'Consequences of Group Violence' covers the aftermath of the Sri Lankan civil war, examines gender impacts on group violence, and reviews community responses to rampage killings, with case studies from Norway. In 'Reflections on Group Violence,' coeditor Hawdon calls for more sociological analysis and identifies four situational conditions associated with group violence: ineffective state control, group identity maintenance, slow rates of social mobility, and symbolic status achieved via violence. Coeditor Lucht asks researchers to supplement causal social scientific accounts of group violence with investigations that address meaning and seek understanding. Summing Up: Recommended. Faculty, specialists, professionals. * CHOICE *
This book does not disappoint. . . .This book is a recommended read for almost everyone—social science students and scholars, law enforcement personnel, politicians—even parents. . . .The variety of themes and topics provide a robust discussion, mixing theoretical and empirical analyses. The authors do this admirably. . . .This book manages to present itself as a practical and thoughtful gateway into better understanding violence, which, considering the pervasive nature of the topic, makes it a relevant read for just about anyone. * International Journal on World Peace *
By examining forms of group violence that are not typically evaluated together in the same work, The Causes and Consequences of Group Violence: From Bullies to Terrorists greatly adds to the body of knowledge on collective violence and its consequences. The implications of the research included in this book extend to academics, students, policymakers, and other professionals who are seeking to implement evidence-based policy responses to collective violence. -- Laura Agnich, Georgia Southern University
Group and collective violence is ubiquitous over time and space and its incidence is seemingly increasing, yet it is a tremendously understudied phenomenon. The Causes and Consequences of Group Violence is a welcome and much-needed addition to this area of study. This book examines victims and offenders of collective violence and considers the full range of such behaviors, including genocide, terrorism, civil resistance, hate crimes, vigilantism, bullying, and school shootings. It will be valuable for faculty and students in the fields of collective behavior, social movements, criminology, and political sociology. -- John Cochran, University of South Florida
This book is a much-needed addition to our growing awareness of the interconnectedness of forms of violence on a variety of levels, and as such should be required reading for scholars, policymakers, pundits, and students of society. The assemblage of contributors is top-notch, the research is clear and comprehensive, and many of the ideas contained herein will guide fruitful discussions about the issue of group violence. If you’ve ever been left speechless when confronted with reports of shocking violence, read this book. -- Glenn W. Muschert, Miami University, Ohio