NCJ Number
62356
Date Published
1971
Length
10 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE IMPACT OF CIVIL VIOLENCE ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THIS ARTICLE CHARACTERIZES THE POST-1945 PERIOD AS AN AGE OF CIVIL VIOLENCE AND SUGGESTS METHODS OF RESTORING INTERNATIONAL ORDER.
Abstract
CIVIL VIOLENCE IS THE USE OF FORCE TO AFFECT THE CIVIL OR DOMESTIC POLITICAL PROCESS, ENCOMPASSING VIOLENT AND SPORADIC INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP ACTS OR THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST THESE ACTS BY ESTABLISHED POLITICAL AUTHORITIES. AN AGE OF CIVIL VIOLENCE IS CHARACTERIZED BY AN UNPRECEDENTED AND STEADILY INCREASING AWARENESS OF CIVIL VIOLENCE IN THE WORLD; THE HEIGHTENED IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATIONS TO THE SUCCESS OF SUCH VIOLENCE; THE INCREASING PROMINENCE OF DOCTRINES OR IDEOLOGIES ADVOCATING VIOLENCE; AND THE SHARED ATTITUDES AND VALUES CONCERNING VIOLENCE AMONG VARIOUS POLITICAL GROUPS. CIVIL VIOLENCE AFFECTS WORLD POLITICS WHEN IT UNITES ANTIGOVERNMENT ANTAGONISTS AGAINST A COMMON ENEMY, WHEN IT EMBROILS OUTSIDE STATES, AND WHEN IT PROVOKES CIVIL FACTIONS TO BECOME VIOLENT ACTORS IN WORLD POLITICS. WESTERN POWERS SHOULD SEEK TO SHAPE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY RESPONSE BY RECOGNIZING THAT INTERNATIONAL ORDER DEPENDS ON MUTUAL SOVEREIGNTY, BY CONTAINING THE CONTAGION OF CIVIL VIOLENCE, BY LIMITING ITS INTERNATIONALIZATION, AND BY COMBATING THE INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE OF CIVIL FACTIONS, SUCH AS AIRCRAFT HIJACKING. GOVERNMENTS SHOULD REFUSE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF KIDNAPPERS IF THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE IS TO ERADICATE KIDNAPPING BUT HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO CONSIDER SAVING THE LIVES OF HOSTAGES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)