'How can they justify it to themselves?' Theories of justification and political violence

Abstract

This research is a systematic and rigorous analysis of the types of normative justifications used by various groups that employ, threaten, or advocate the use of terrorism or political violence. It examines the internal logic of these justificatory positions as exemplified in various groups' literature, publications, and pronouncements, by analysing and interpreting these texts. It represents a comparative analysis of the justifications for violence actually used by a broad range of politically violent groups - national liberation movements, revolutionary left groups, Islamic extremists, the anti-abortion Christian right, and fascist and hate groups.