The Myths of Violence

This essay addresses ten of the most dominant myths concerning our understanding of violence. It provides a critique of the prevailing assumptions which continue to argue that 1) violence is natural 2) violence comes easy to humans 3) violence attacks a juridical life 4) Violence is the result of underdevelopment 5) Violence is the result of difference 6) Violence is a sign of absolute power 7) Violence is associated with some death drive 8) Violence can be intelligent through a mastery of technology 9) The opposite of violence is a just peace 10) Violence is an assault on the sacred meaning of life. In doing so, it opens up new conversation on the meaning of political violence and makes an impassioned call to free ourselves from the sacred myths that bind us to a problem that still appears insurmountable.