Political Violence in Germany

Instructor: Dr. Michael C. Zeller
Email: m.zeller@lmu.de (please use your LMU email address for communication)
Webpage: https://michaelzeller.de/
Office hour: Wednesdays, 11.00 - 12.00
Office: GSI (Oettingenstr. 67) Room H105

Course particulars

  • Course level: BA
  • Course format: seminar
  • Module assignment: Einführung in das Politische System Deutschlands

Course description

This course will introduce students to the major aspects of (non-state) political violence by presenting research covering violent extremism and terrorism, radicalisation and deradicalisation, repression, demobilisation. We will consider why people and groups use political violence and how, its range of effects, how states and others react. Students will acquire both substantive knowledge of these research fields—especially through the repeated examination of important cases, such as political violence in Germany and in other countries—and the ability to evaluate research therein. Students should be prepared for reading and discussion of difficult topics, which can be unsettling.

Course schedule overview

Date Class Week Lecture
2026-10-12 1 1 Introduction and types of political violence
2026-10-19 2 2 Causes: setting the stage for political violence
2026-10-26 3 3 Radicalisation
2026-11-02 4 4 Selecting violent/nonviolent strategies
2026-11-09 5 5 Radical subcultures and mobilisation
2026-11-16 6 6 Leadership
2026-11-23 7 7 Foreign fighters
2026-11-30 8 8 Election-related violence
2026-12-07 9 9 Escalation and restraint
2026-12-14 10 10 Local support and public reaction
2026-12-21 11 11 State responses: policies
2027-01-11 12 14 State responses: repression
2027-01-18 13 15 Addressing violence online
2027-01-25 14 16 Disengagement, deradicalisation (individual), demobilisation (organisational)
2027-02-01 15 17 NO CLASS MEETING TODAY

Course and Teacher evaluation

Student input for the purpose of course improvement is taken very seriously and will potentially be done periodically. Please take the time to evaluate this course and the instructor, especially at the end of the semester. Evaluations will in no way affect your grade.