De monopolisering van georganiseerd geweld

Samenvatting

The overall development of organized violence can be described in terms of technological and organizational development, but also (somewhat surprisingly) as a civilizing process. Two trends stand out in this long-term process: increasing size and monopolization. Monopolization has proceeded in three stages, ie, monopoly held by (1) all adult males, (2) specialized warriors, and (3) states. A driving force in the entire process has been the mechanism of the "arms race." In every stage, monopolization has involved pacification: first the vanquished, but in the long run, many of the victors as well, have been compelled to disarm. To account for this phenomenon, reference is made to "the paradox of pacification." Monopolies of violence are always contested, and pacification is never complete. Today, the era of state monopolies appears to be superseded by an emergent fourth stage. The distinction between extensive and intensive growth, used in economic history, may be helpful in explaining transitions in political and military history as well. 32 References. Adapted from the source document.