Routledge Handbook on Transformations of Political Violence

This new handbook explores, organizes, and analyzes current research on political violence in a changing global context.

Drawing from diverse disciplines―political science, sociology, anthropology, and history, as well as cultural and legal studies―this volume comprehensively surveys current research, providing an interdisciplinary overview that transcends traditional boundaries. At the heart of this volume lies the concept of “transformations.” This handbook delves into three pivotal questions: (1) how have forms of political violence evolved over time? (2) What role do institutions play in shaping these changes? (3) How do different stakeholders interpret and ascribe meaning to varying manifestations of political violence? Offering a systematic approach, this volume provides statistical insights and pivotal case studies, bridging epistemological and methodological boundaries. Mapping the contemporary terrain of political violence, this book provides readers with a versatile toolbox, enabling them to engage with both the dynamics of violence and the underlying political context. This work’s process‑oriented paradigm facilitates dialogues between disciplines, shedding light on recent trends and providing a nuanced understanding of political violence in our complex world.

This book will be of much interest to students of political violence, terrorism studies, sociology, politics, and International Relations in general.

Thorsten Bonacker is Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Marburg University, Germany. He received his PhD from the University of Oldenburg.

Christopher Daase is Professor of International Relations at Goethe University Frankfurt and PRIF’s deputy director and head of the Research Department “International Security”.

Jonas J. Driedger is a researcher at PRIF and at the Research Center Transformations of Political Violence (TraCe). He conducted fieldwork in Ukraine and Russia, held interim professorships at Goethe University Frankfurt, and was a DAAD fellow at the School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC.

Nguyễn Phạm Lam Phương is a PhD candidate at Marburg University, Germany.

Jannik Pfister is Head of European Initiatives at the Hertie Foundation and an associate fellow at PRIF. He previously served as an academic coordinator of the Research Center TraCe.