| Block | Date | Theme | Content | Key Actors | Key literature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| causes, radicalisation, mobilisation | 2025-10-16 | 1. Introduction and types of political violence | core definitions; patterns of violence | individuals; groups/ organisations | Ravndal |
| 2025-10-23 | 2. Causes: Setting the stage for political violence | macro-, meso-, and micro-level factors | state actors; group leaders | Crenshaw | |
| 2025-10-30 | 3. Radicalisation | models and processes of radicalisation | at-risk individuals; recruiters | della Porta | |
| 2025-11-06 | 4. Selecting violent/nonviolent strategies | strategies and tactics; opportunity structures | groups/ organisations; state actors | Lafaye and Brochard | |
| 2025-11-13 | 5. Radical subcultures and mobilisation | radical milieus, mobilising structures | subcultural activists, entrepreneurs | Bosi and della Porta | |
| politically violent activity | 2025-11-20 | 6. Leadership | types of leadership; leading tasks | group/ organisation leaders | Bob and Nepstad |
| 2025-12-04 | 7. Foreign fighters | armed conflict, foreign fighters | individuals, activists, militants | Morris | |
| 2025-12-11 | 8. Election-related violence | electoral violence; intra- and anti-system violence | groups/ organisations; state actors | Harbers, Richetta, and van Wingerden | |
| 2025-12-18 | 9. Escalation and restraint | spirals of escalation; brakes on violent activity | individuals, militants, groups/ organisations | Copsey and Merrill | |
| 2026-01-08 | 10. Local support and public reaction | violent group constitutuency relations | movements; movement organisations | Setter and Nepstad | |
| responses to political violence | 2026-01-15 | 11. State responses: Policies | resilience-building policies; violent extremism prevention | state actors, social workers | Koehler |
| 2026-01-22 | 12. State responses: Repression | counter-extremism/ counter-terrorism; social control | state actors, criminal justice authorities | Bourne and Veuglers | |
| 2026-01-29 | 13. Addressing violence online | social media platforms; transnationalisation; counterspeech | platform users; platform companies | Conway, Scrivens, and Macnair | |
| 2026-02-05 | 14. Disengagement, deradicalisation (individual), demobilisation (organisational) | policies, programmes, and state actions to end or diminish political violences | state actors, social workers, opposed activists | Gaudette, Scrivens, and Venkatesh; Zeller |
Readings
Course outline and readings
PART I - causes, radicalisation, mobilisation
In the first sessions of the course we will focus first on establishing the conceptual basis for studying the political violence. What different types of political violence are there, both from the non-state actors that we focus on in this course and otherwise? What are the causes of political violence? With these essential descriptive questions addressed, we proceed to the matter of how political violence emerges: how individuals and groups radicalise and how they move towards performing violence.
Class 1 - Introduction and types of political violence
Required reading
- Ravndal JA (2015). “Thugs or Terrorists? A Typology of Right-Wing, Terrorism and Violence in Western Europe.” Journal for, Deradicalization, 15(3), 1-38.
Reading file
Further reading
- Bosi L, Demetriou C, Malthaner S (eds.) (2014). Dynamics of Political, Violence. Ashgate, Farnham. ISBN 978-1-4094-4351-3.
Reading file
- Ravndal JA, Thorstensen M, Ravik Jupskås A, Macklin G (2021). “RTV, Trend Report 2021. Right-Wing Terrorism and Violence in Western Europe,, 1990-2020.” Technical Report 1, University of Oslo, Oslo.
Reading file
Class 2 - Causes: setting the stage for political violence
Required reading
- Crenshaw M (1981). “The Causes of Terrorism.” Comparative Politics,, 13(4), 379-399.
Reading file
Further reading
- Piazza JA (2017). “The Determinants of Domestic Right-Wing Terrorism in, the USA: Economic Grievance, Societal Change and Political Resentment.”, Conflict Management and Peace Science, 34(1), 52-80. ISSN 15499219,, doi:10.1177/0738894215570429, https://doi.org/10.1177/0738894215570429.
Reading file
Class 3 - Radicalisation
Required reading
- della Porta D (2018). “Radicalization: A Relational Perspective.”, Annual Review of Sociology, 21, 461-474., doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-042716, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-042716.
Reading file
Further reading
- Al-Khoury D (2020). “Radicalisation: Old and New a Comparative Analysis, of the Red Brigades and the Islamic State.” Quality and Quantity,, 54(3), 867-885. ISSN 15737845, doi:10.1007/s11135-020-00963-1, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-020-00963-1.
Reading file
- Fahey S, Simi P (2019). “Pathways to Violent Extremism: A Qualitative, Comparative Analysis of the US Far-Right.” Dynamics of Asymmetric, Conflict, 12(1), 42-66. ISSN 1746-7586,, doi:10.1080/17467586.2018.1551558, https://doi.org/10.1080/17467586.2018.1551558.
Reading file
- Jensen MA, Seate AA, James PA (2018). “Radicalization to Violence: A, Pathway Approach to Studying Extremism Radicalization to Violence.”, Terrorism and Political Violence, 1-24. ISSN 0954-6553,, doi:10.1080/09546553.2018.1442330, https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2018.1442330.
Reading file
- Metodieva A, Zeller MC (2023). “Influences of Islamist Radicalization:, A Configurational Analysis of Balkan Foreign Fighters in Syria.”, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 1-26. ISSN 1057-610X, 1521-0731,, doi:10.1080/1057610X.2023.2213967, https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2023.2213967, <2023-05-25>.
Reading file
- Schils N, Verhage A (2017). “Understanding How and Why Young People, Enter Radical or Violent Extremist Groups.” International Journal of, Conflict and Violence, 11, 1-17. ISSN 18641385,, doi:10.4119/UNIBI/ijcv.473 https://doi.org/10.4119/UNIBI/ijcv.473.
Reading file
- Simi P, Windisch S (2020). “Why Radicalization Fails: Barriers to Mass, Casualty Terrorism.” Terrorism and Political Violence, 32(4),, 831-850. ISSN 0954-6553, doi:10.1080/09546553.2017.1409212, https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2017.1409212.
Reading file
- Vergani M, Iqbal M, Ilbahar E, Barton G (2018). “The Three Ps of, Radicalization: Push , Pull and Personal. A Systematic Scoping Review, of the Scientific Evidence about Radicalization Into Violent, Extremism.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 0(0), 1-32. ISSN, 1057-610X, doi:10.1080/1057610X.2018.1505686, https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2018.1505686.
Reading file
- Weggemans D, Liem M, van der Zwan M (2021). “A Family Affair?, Exploratory Insights into the Role of Family Members of Those Who, Joined Jihadist Groups.” Security Journal, 1-14. ISSN 17434645,, doi:10.1057/s41284-021-00302-5, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-021-00302-5.
Reading file
Class 4 - Selecting violent/nonviolent strategies
Required reading
- Lafaye CG, Brochard P (2022). “Methodological Approach to the Evolution, of a Terrorist Organisation: ETA, 1959-2018.” Quality & Quantity,, 56(4), 2453-2475. ISSN 0033-5177, 1573-7845,, doi:10.1007/s11135-021-01203-w, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-021-01203-w, <2022-08-02>.
Reading file
Further reading
- Chermak S, Freilich J, Suttmoeller M (2013). “The Organizational, Dynamics of Far-Right Hate Groups in the United States: Comparing, Violent to Nonviolent Organizations.” Studies in Conflict &, Terrorism, 36(3), 193-218. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2013.755912, https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2013.755912.
Reading file
- Cress D, Snow D (2000). “The Outcomes of Homeless Mobilization: The, Influence of Organization, Disruption, Political Mediation, and, Framing.” American Journal of Sociology, 105(4), 1063-1104.
Reading file
- Mironova V, Whitt S (2022). “Maintaining Nonviolent Selfdiscipline in, Hostile Protest Environments : Evidence from the 2019 Baghdad, Protests.” Social Movement Studies, 00(00), 1-20. ISSN 1474-2837,, doi:10.1080/14742837.2022.2070466, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2022.2070466.
Reading file
- Schuurman B (2020). “Non-Involvement in Terrorist Violence:, Understanding the Most Common Outcome of Radicalization Processes.”, Perspectives on Terrorism, 14(6), 14-26. ISSN 23343745.
Reading file
Class 5 - Radical subcultures and mobilisation
Required reading
- Bosi L, Porta DD (2012). “Micro-Mobilization into Armed Groups:, Ideological, Instrumental and Solidaristic Paths.” Qualitative, Sociology, 35(4), 361-383. ISSN 01620436,, doi:10.1007/s11133-012-9237-1, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11133-012-9237-1.
Reading file
Further reading
- Brown TS (2004). “Subcultures, Pop Music and Politics: Skinheads and,”Nazi Rock” in England and Germany.” Journal of Social History,, 38(1), 157-178. 3790031.
Reading file
- Dych K (2016). Reichsrock: The International Web of White-Power and, Neo-Nazi Hate Music. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick. ISBN, 978-0-8135-7471-4.
Reading file
- Meier LD (2021). “The Strategic Use of Emotions in Recruitment, Strategies of Armed Groups: The Case of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil, Eelam.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 44(12), 1148-1166. ISSN, 1057-610X, 1521-0731, doi:10.1080/1057610X.2019.1634343, https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2019.1634343, <2023-01-10>.
Reading file
- Meier LD (2022). “Spatiotemporal Variation in Armed Group Recruitment, Among Former Members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, .” Sociological Forum, 37(2), 510-532. ISSN, 0884-8971, 1573-7861, doi:10.1111/socf.12805, https://doi.org/10.1111/socf.12805, <2023-01-11>.
Reading file
PART II - Performing political violence
In this set of class sessions, we will focus on how the causes and violent potential examined in PART I translates into performing political violence. We begin with the topic of leadership in and around politically violent groups. Then, we look at several forms and contexts of political violence in action. Further in this direction, we consider the dynamics of escalation and, conversely, restraint that manifests in politically violent groups. We conclude this section by concentrating on the local support for and broader effects of political violence.
Class 6 - Leadership
Required reading
- Bob C, Nepstad SE (2007). “Kill a Leader, Murder a Movement? Leadership, and Assassination in Social Movements.” American Behavioral, Scientist, 50(10), 1370-1394. ISSN 00027642,, doi:10.1177/0002764207300162, https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764207300162.
Reading file
Further reading
- Choi S (2022). “Leader Nationalism, Ethnic Identity, and Terrorist, Violence.” British Journal of Political Science, 52(3), 1151-1167., ISSN 0007-1234, 1469-2112, doi:10.1017/S0007123421000144, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123421000144, <2022-08-31>.
Reading file
- Metodieva A (2021). “The Radical Milieu and Radical Influencers of, Bosnian Foreign Fighters.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 0(0),, 1-21. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2020.1868097, https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2020.1868097.
Reading file
Class 7 - Foreign fighters
Required reading
- Morris AM (2023). “Who Becomes a Foreign Fighter? Characteristics of, the Islamic State’s Soldiers.” Terrorism and Political Violence,, 1-19. ISSN 0954-6553, 1556-1836, doi:10.1080/09546553.2022.2144730, https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2022.2144730, <2023-01-25>.
Reading file
Further reading
- Capellan JA, Anisin A (2018). “A Distinction Without a Difference ?, Examining the Causal Pathways Behind Ideologically Motivated Mass, Public Shootings.” Homicide Studies, 22(3), 235-255., doi:10.1177/1088767918770704, https://doi.org/10.1177/1088767918770704.
Reading file
- Enstad JD (2018). “Right-Wing Terrorism and Violence in Putin’s, Russia.” Perspectives on Terrorism, 12(6), 89-103.
Reading file
Rękawek, K. (2022). Foreign Fighters in Ukraine: The Brown–Red Cocktail. Taylor & Francis.
Class 8 - Election-related violence
Required reading
- Harbers I, Richetta C, van Wingerden E (2022). “Shaping Electoral, Outcomes: Intra- and Anti-systemic Violence in Indian Assembly, Elections.” British Journal of Political Science, 1-17. ISSN, 0007-1234, 1469-2112, doi:10.1017/S0007123422000345, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123422000345, <2022-11-07>.
Reading file
Further reading
- Kudelia S (2018). “When Numbers Are Not Enough: The Strategic Use of, Violence in Ukraine’s 2014 Revolution.” Comparative Politics,, 50(4), 501-521.
Reading file
- Pirro AL (2019). “Ballots and Barricades Enhanced: Far-Right `Movement, Parties’ and Movement-Electoral Interactions.” Nations and, Nationalism, 25(3), 782-802. ISSN 14698129, doi:10.1111/nana.12483, https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.12483.
Reading file
Class 9 - Escalation and restraint
Required reading
- Copsey N, Merrill S (2020). “Violence and Restraint within Antifa: A, View from the United States.” Perspectives on Terrorism, 14(6),, 122-138.
Reading file
Further reading
- Busher J, Bjørgo T (2020). “Restraint in Terrorist Groups and Radical, Milieus: Towards a Research Agenda.” Perspectives on Terrorism,, 14(6), 2-13. ISSN 23343745.
Reading file
- Busher J, Harris G, Ebner J, Hacsek Z, Macklin G (2022). “The Dynamics, Of Violence Escalation And Inhibition During ‘Hot Periods’ Of, Anti-Minority And Far-Right Activism: Towards An Assessment Framework.”, CREST, Coventry.
Reading file
Class 10 - Local support and public reaction
Required reading
- Setter D, Nepstad SE (2022). “How Social Movemenst Influence Public, Opinion on Political Violence: Attitude Shifts in the Wake of the, George Floyd Protests.” Mobilization: An International Quarterly,, 27(4), 429-444. ISSN 1938-1514, 1086-671X,, doi:10.17813/1086-671X-27-4-429, https://doi.org/10.17813/1086-671X-27-4-429, <2023-01-24>.
Reading file
Further reading
- Meier LD (2022). “Between Coercion and Representation: Exploring, Variation in Support Relations between Tamil Civilians and the, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).” Partecipazione e conflitto,, 15(1), 157-174.
Reading file
- Völker T (2023). “How Terrorist Attacks Distort Public Debates: A, Comparative Study of Right-Wing and Islamist Extremism.” Journal of, European Public Policy, 1-28. ISSN 1350-1763, 1466-4429,, doi:10.1080/13501763.2023.2269194, https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2023.2269194, <2023-11-17>.
Reading file
PART III - Responses to political violence
In this set of class sessions, we will shift our focus to the responses to and downward trajectory of political violence. This starts with considering how states respond to political violence, groups and individuals violating the state’s assertion to a monopoly on coercion. Given its contemporary importance, we add to this a specific examination of how violent actors can be addressed in online spaces. Our last two sessions focus on how these external responses (and other factors) drive individuals to cease their political violence and groups to give up on the strategy.
Class 11 - State responses: policies
Required reading
- Koehler D (2019). “Violence and Terrorism from the Far-Right: Policy, Options to Counter an Elusive Threat.” Policy Brief February,, International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, The Hague., pdf/resrep19617.pdf.
Reading file
Further reading
- Melzer R, Serafin S (2013). Right-Wing Extremism in Europe: Country, Analyses, Counter-Strategies and Labor-Market Oriented Exit, Strategies. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Forum Berlin, Berlin. ISBN, 978-3-86498-522-5.
Reading file
- Membrives MTG, Alonso R (2022). “Countering Violent Extremism in Spain:, Analyzing the Intervention with Young Jihadi Convicted of Membership of, a Terrorist Organization.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 1-33., ISSN 1057-610X, 1521-0731, doi:10.1080/1057610X.2022.2143741, https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2022.2143741, <2023-01-24>.
Reading file
- Zech ST (2016). “Decapitation, Disruption, and Unintended Consequences, in Counterterrorism: Lessons from Islamist Terror Networks in Spain.”, Defense & Security Analysis, 32(2), 177-191. ISSN 1475-1798,, 1475-1801, doi:10.1080/14751798.2016.1160489, https://doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2016.1160489, <2023-10-08>.
Reading file
Class 12 - State responses: repression
Required reading
- Bourne A, Veugelers J (2022). “Militant Democracy and Successors to, Authoritarian Ruling Parties in Post-1945 West Germany and Italy.”, Democratization, 29(4), 736-753. ISSN 1743890X,, doi:10.1080/13510347.2021.2012160, https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2021.2012160.
Reading file
Further reading
- al-Anani K (2019). “Rethinking the Repression-Dissent Nexus: Assessing, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood’s Response to Repression since the Coup of, 2013.” Democratization, 0(0), 1-13. ISSN 1743890X,, doi:10.1080/13510347.2019.1630610, https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2019.1630610.
Reading file
- Bale T (2007). “Are Bans on Political Parties Bound to Turn Out Badly?, A Comparative Investigation of Three `Intolerant’ Democracies: Turkey,, Spain, and Belgium.” Comparative European Politics, 5(2), 141-157., ISSN 1472-4790, doi:10.1057/palgrave.cep.6110093, https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.cep.6110093.
Reading file
- Bleich E, Lambert F (2013). “Why Are Racist Associations Free in Some, States and Banned in Others? Evidence from 10 Liberal Democracies.”, West European Politics, 36(1), 122-149. ISSN 01402382,, doi:10.1080/01402382.2013.742754, https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2013.742754.
Reading file
- Earl J (2003). “Tanks, Tear Gas, and Taxes : Toward a Theory of, Movement Repression.” Sociological Theory, 21(1), 44-68.
Reading file
- Macklin G (2018). “‘Only Bullets Will Stop Us!’ - The Banning of, National Action in Britain.” Perspectives on Terrorism, 12(6),, 104-122.
Reading file
Class 13 - Addressing violence online
Required reading
- Conway M, Scrivens R, Macnair L (2019). “Right-Wing Extremists’, Persistent Online Presence: History and Contemporary Trends.” ICCT, Policy Brief, 1-24. doi:10.19165/2019.3.12, https://doi.org/10.19165/2019.3.12.
Reading file
Further reading
- Saltman E, Kooti F, Vockery K (2021). “New Models for Deploying, Counterspeech: Measuring Behavioral Change and Sentiment Analysis.”, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 0(0), 1-24. ISSN 15210731,, doi:10.1080/1057610X.2021.1888404, https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2021.1888404.
Reading file
Class 14 - Disengagement, deradicalisation (individual), demobilisation (organisational)
Required reading
- Gaudette T, Scrivens R, Venkatesh V (2022). “Disengaged but Still, Radical? Pathways Out of Violent Right-Wing Extremism.” Terrorism and, Political Violence, 00(00), 1-26. ISSN 0954-6553,, doi:10.1080/09546553.2022.2082288, https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2022.2082288.
Reading file
- Zeller MC (2022). “Demobilising Far-Right Demonstration Campaigns:, Coercive Counter-Mobilisation, State Social Control, and the, Demobilisation of the Hess Gedenkmarsch Campaign.” Social Movement, Studies, 21(3), 372-390. doi:10.1080/14742837.2021.1889493, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2021.1889493.
Reading file
Further reading
- Barceló J, Labzina E (2022). “Islamic State’s Terrorist Attacks, Disengage Their Supporters: Robust Evidence from Twitter.” British, Journal of Political Science, 52(3), 1490-1501. ISSN 0007-1234,, 1469-2112, doi:10.1017/S0007123421000582, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123421000582, <2022-12-20>. (and below a rebuttal from Hansen TM (2022). “The Perils of Estimating Disengagement Effects of, Deadly Terrorist Attacks Utilizing Social Media Data.” British Journal, of Political Science, 52(3), 1482-1489. ISSN 0007-1234, 1469-2112,, doi:10.1017/S000712342100017X, https://doi.org/10.1017/S000712342100017X, <2022-12-20>.)
Reading file
- Cronin AK (2006). “How Al-Qaida Ends: The Decline and Demise of, Terrorist Groups.” International Security, 31(1), 7-48.
Reading file
- Cronin AK (2009). How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and, Demise of Terrorist Campaigns. Princeton University Press, Princeton., ISBN 978-0-691-13948-7.
Reading file
- Davenport C (2015). How Social Movements Die. Cambridge University, Press, Cambridge. ISBN 978-1-107-61387-4, doi:10.1017/cbo9781139649728, https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139649728.
Reading file
- Fillieule O (2009). “Disengagement from Radical Organizations. A, Process and Multi-Level Model of Analysis.” In Klandermans B, van, Stralen C (eds.), Movements in Times of Transition, 1-29. University, of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.
Reading file
- Hansen TM (2022). “The Perils of Estimating Disengagement Effects of, Deadly Terrorist Attacks Utilizing Social Media Data.” British Journal, of Political Science, 52(3), 1482-1489. ISSN 0007-1234, 1469-2112,, doi:10.1017/S000712342100017X, https://doi.org/10.1017/S000712342100017X, <2022-12-20>. (rebuttal of Barceló J, Labzina E (2022). “Islamic State’s Terrorist Attacks, Disengage Their Supporters: Robust Evidence from Twitter.” British, Journal of Political Science, 52(3), 1490-1501. ISSN 0007-1234,, 1469-2112, doi:10.1017/S0007123421000582, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123421000582, <2022-12-20>.)
Reading file
- Smith AF, Sullivan CR (2022). “Exiting Far-Right Extremism: A Case, Study in Applying the Developmental Core Need Framework.” Behavioral, Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression, 0(0), 1-21. ISSN, 1943-4472, doi:10.1080/19434472.2022.2076718, https://doi.org/10.1080/19434472.2022.2076718.
Reading file
- Zeller MC (2021). “Patterns of Demobilization: A Qualitative, Comparative Analysis (QCA) of Far-Right Demonstration Campaigns.”, Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 26(3), 267-284., doi:10.17813/1086-671X-26-3-267, https://doi.org/10.17813/1086-671X-26-3-267.
Reading file