Violent Societies

In this groundbreaking book Christian Gerlach traces the social roots of the extraordinary processes of human destruction involved in mass violence throughout the twentieth century. He argues that terms such as 'genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing' are too narrow to explain the diverse motives and interests that cause violence to spread in varying forms and intensities. From killings and expulsions to enforced hunger, collective rape, strategic bombing, forced labour and imprisonment he explores what happened before, during, and after periods of widespread bloodshed in countries such as Armenia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nazi-occupied Greece and in anti-guerilla wars worldwide in order to highlight the crucial role of socio-economic pressures in the generation of group conflicts. By focussing on why so many different people participated in or supported mass violence, and why different groups were victimized, he offers us a new way of understanding one of the most disturbing phenomena of our times.

This book investigates the relationships between political violence, social violence and economic violence using examples from South Africa, Northern Ireland, Lebanon and Syria. It examines the cultural impact of war and argues that a culture of violence can explain the high levels of violence which are frequently found in post-war societies.

From the Foreward: Each chapter of this work is in truth a separate essay or article in which an author distinguished in his field treats a different aspect or manifestation of violence in human society. I doubt whether so complete a treatise in so short a compass has been previously attempted. The reader will be left in no doubt when he reflects on what he has read that violence is, and always has been, a feature or a threat in human society- and will remain so. The reason why this must be so is made plain in the early chapters. Violent behaviour is a display of man's aggressive instinct: without that instinct, which he (and she) shares with the rest of the animal kingdom, the human species would not survive. First published in 1987. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The most violent places in the world today are not at war. More people have died in Mexico in recent years than in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. These parts of the world are instead buckling under a maelstrom of gangs, organized crime, political conflict, corruption, and state brutality. Such devastating violence can feel hopeless, yet some places—from Colombia to the Republic of Georgia—have been able to recover. In this powerfully argued and urgent book, Rachel Kleinfeld examines why some democracies, including our own, are crippled by extreme violence and how they can regain security. Drawing on fifteen years of study and firsthand field research—interviewing generals, former guerrillas, activists, politicians, mobsters, and law enforcement in countries around the world—Kleinfeld tells the stories of societies that successfully fought seemingly ingrained violence and offers penetrating conclusions about what must be done to build governments that are able to protect the lives of their citizens. Taking on existing literature and popular theories about war, crime, and foreign intervention, A Savage Order is a blistering yet inspiring investigation into what makes some countries peaceful and others war zones, and a blueprint for what we can do to help.

Today's children are bombarded with images of violence in cartoons, news reports, television shows, computer games, movies, and other media. In growing numbers, they are also exposed to real-life violence in their own homes and communities--as witnesses, victims, and, increasingly, perpetrators. Emphasizing the need for early intervention and prevention, this timely book details the incidence and scope of the violence epidemic and examines the developmental impact of violence on children. Contributors describe several exemplary prevention and intervention programs currently in place around the country and propose a range of educational and policy initiatives.

From the Foreward: Each chapter of this work is in truth a separate essay or article in which an author distinguished in his field treats a different aspect or manifestation of violence in human society. I doubt whether so complete a treatise in so short a compass has been previously attempted. The reader will be left in no doubt when he reflects on what he has read that violence is, and always has been, a feature or a threat in human society- and will remain so. The reason why this must be so is made plain in the early chapters. Violent behaviour is a display of man's aggressive instinct: without that instinct, which he (and she) shares with the rest of the animal kingdom, the human species would not survive. First published in 1987. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This book explores how social and territorial boundaries have influenced the approaches and practices of the South Africa Police Service (SAPS). By means of a historical analysis of South Africa, this book introduces a new concept, ‘police frontierism’, which illuminates the nature of the relationships between the police, policing and boundaries, and can potentially be used for future case study research. Drawing on a wealth of research, this book examines how social and territorial boundaries strongly influenced police practices and behaviour in South Africa, and how social delineations amplify and distort existing police prejudices against those communities on the other side of the boundary. Focusing on cases of high-density police operations, public-order policing and the recent policing of the COVID-19 lockdown, this book argues that poor economic conditions combined with an increased militarisation of the SAPS and a decline in public trust in the police will result in boundaries continuing to fundamentally inform police work in South Africa. This book will be of interest to scholars and students interested in policing in post-colonial societies characterised by high levels of violence, as well as police work and police militarization.

Click ′Additional Materials′ for downloadable samples "As a good encyclopedia does, the Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime brings together articles that offer diverse insights into the topic, while at the same time giving the reader a feel for its overall scope." --AGAINST THE GRAIN "This carefully researched and excellently presented compendium will be a welcome addition to all libraries." --REFERENCE & USER SERVICES QUARTERLY Murder and violent crime take many forms. Who are the perpetrators? What do they have in common and how are they different? The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime presents the latest research, insightful commentary, and "true crime" case studies to help in the understanding and deterrence of one of society′s gravest problems. Although there is no easy or single answer to the question of why people kill or commit violent crimes, this important new reference work provides a wealth of information to create a background for cogent analysis. Written for a Wide Audience The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime is intended for a wide audience including school, public, and university libraries. It will also prove invaluable to those who report violent crime′s unfolding stories, such as mass media news outlets, television and radio stations, editorial offices of magazines, and newspapers. Criminal justice professionals will also find it valuable and fascinating balance of academic research and "true crime" material they can relate to in their own experience. Edited by the World′s Leading Authority on Multiple Homicide Offenders Eric W. Hickey, Ph.D., enjoys a worldwide reputation for his work with serial killers, sex crimes, workplace violence, stalking, and the Unabomber case. A professor of criminal psychology at California State University, Fresno and adjunct professor for Fresno City College and the California School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Hickey has published and lectured extensively on the etiology of violence and serial crime. His book Serial Murderers and Their Victims, 2 nd Edition is used as a primary text in colleges and universities and by law enforcement in the study of the nature of violence, criminal personalities and victim-offender relationships. Hickey′s research is widely quoted and often is the subject of interviews in the media including National Public Radio, BBC, The Discovery and Learning Channels, Larry King Live, 20/20, and Court TV. He recently developed a cyber-stalking training course for the National District Attorney′s Association and the American Prosecutor′s Research Institute. His latest research, a study of 220 victims of stalking, examines the psychology and classification of stalkers, victim-offender relationships, intervention and deterrence strategies for potential offenders, and modes of victim assistance. Contributions From Over 100 Experts in the Field The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime contains 200 entries covering long-documented classifications such as Serial Killers and Organized Crime to cutting edge topics of Cyber-Stalking, Kids Who Kill, and Terrorism. Leading educators, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and criminal justice professionals share their experience and insights on everything from Aggression and Antisocial Personality Disorder to the infamous Zodiac Murders. A Unique Compilation The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime explores the topic in great detail, looking at a multitude of issues from all angles--academic and professional research, theoretical background, and actual case studies. This combined approach provides a well-rounded overview with both theory and its historical evidence. Key Features: Edited by one of the highest profile experts in the field or murder and violent crime Over 600 pages and 50 photographs Handy, easy-to-use Reader′s Guide Comprehensive bibliographies for every article Appendix of key criminological theorists More than 100 contributors in the fields of criminology, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and anthropology More than 200 comprehensive entries, from the types of murder and violent crime and infamous perpetrators to motivation, profiling, deterrence, investigation, and punishment Concise case studies of serial murderers, infamous crimes, and their investigations Essays on criminal terms and pathologies Brief definitions of relevant legal and criminological terms boxed and included with major entries Examines a Broad Range of Issues: Air Rage Assassins and Professional Killers Batterers Child Killers Columbine School Shooting Community Attitudes Toward Violent Offenders Corporate Violence The Criminally Insane The Death Penalty including the experience of Death Row DNA Profiling Domestic Violence Elder Abuse Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide & the Holocaust Euthanasia and Medical Murders Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation Gun Control Hate Crimes How Courts Handle Murder and Violent Crime Manson Family Mass Murderers Motives for Murder Murder Suicide Pedophilia Poisoners Sex Crimes Stalking Street and Prison Gangs Terrorists Workplace Violence Plus a Detailed Look at: Serial and Team Killers: Beltway Snipers Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo Ted Bundy Comfort Zone Killers Dana Gray Green River Killings Hog Trail Killings Jack Gilbert Graham Jack The Ripper Jeffrey Dahmer Johann Otto Hoch ( Bluebeard) Karla Holmulka & Paul Bernardo Killer Clown, John Wayne Gacy Martha Beck and Ray Fernandez Russian Ripper, Andrei Chikatilo Son of Sam, David Berkowitz U.S. and International Organized Crime: Al Capone Charles Arthur (Pretty Boy) Floyd Frank Costello Gambino Crime Family Genovese Crime Family Giovanni Falcone Jimmy Hoffa Terrorism: Osama Bin Laden Timothy McVeigh Special Reference Section on Definitions in Homicide: Attempted Murder Criminal Homicide Criminal Intent Culpabilities Defenses Felony Murder Rule Motivations for Perceptions of Rates Thanatology Types of Recommended Libraries: Academic, school, public, and university, coporate, special/private libraries, and reference libraries for criminal justice agencies and the news media.