Political Violence:
Political violence plays a significant role in
destabilizing the political system. The timeframe for accepting minor political
issues in the form of demands is self-imposed. If the administration fails to
meet these demands, the concerned group resorts to violent activities,
resulting in vandalism, killings, robberies, and looting. Movements such as
strikes, lockouts, processions, burning puppets, insulting slogans, and making
cartoons become a daily occurrence. If the politics of protest and violence is not
curbed, the existence of many developing countries will be endangered.
The
alternative term for political violence is political disturbance, which can be
defined as the manifestation of differences within the political and social
spheres in the form of conflict and friction.
Developing
States and Political Violence:
Developing countries are the most affected by political
violence, where unreasonable demands from opposition parties often manifest as
protests, strikes, arson, and violent movements. Apart from political parties,
there are differences and contradictions between influential groups, religious
organizations, and social institutions. The political system and economy of
developing countries become unstable as a result of political violence.
Causes
of Political Violence: Political thinkers have identified the following causes
of political violence:
1:-Sense of deprivation.
2:-Aggressive attitude of the police.
3:-Sectarianism.
4:-Poverty and unemployment.
5:-Flawed judiciary.
6:-Unnecessary political intervention.
7:-Terrorism.
8:-Racism.
9:-Regionalism.
10:-State terrorism.
11:-Linguistic conflicts.
12:-External interventions.
Sense
of deprivation:
Some governments isolate people from political affairs,
creating a growing gap between the people and the government. People are
excluded from development work and public welfare, leading to a sense of
deprivation that is nurtured by the government itself. Eventually, this feeling
of deprivation becomes the biggest challenge for the government, erupting as
political unrest.
Poor
judicial system:
In states where the judiciary is independent and the
judicial process is efficient, the population lives happily based on justice.
However, in most developing countries, the judicial system is still in its
early stages, leading to pressures from the legislature and officials. The poor
judicial system generates frustration and anxiety among the people. Landlords and
capitalists can buy justice, while the poor have to suffer, undermining their
dignity and fueling political violence.
Police
behavior:
Repressive regimes establish their dominance and power
over the people through the police. They attempt to suppress public opinion by
illegitimately implicating individuals in criminal cases. In developing
countries, the police are often seen as supporters of criminals and the ruling
class, leading to growing public grievances and subsequent political violence.
Unnecessary
political interference:
Powerful individuals exploit unchecked political
interference to force acceptance of their illegitimate and unjust demands. The
voices of the poor are unheard in the police and judiciary, while politicians
can manipulate the police in their favor, even when they are on the wrong side.
They achieve this with just a phone call or a letter to the police authorities.
Sectarianism:
Political factionalism and nepotism have divided the
politics of developing countries. The caste system in India and Pakistan has
fostered conflict between different groups. Consequently, communalism leads
people to engage in violent political activities.
Terrorism:
Terrorism is one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Terrorists resort to violence to achieve their nefarious goals, primarily
targeting private property and lives. Their actions create an atmosphere of
fear and violence within the country, prompting people to engage in violent
protests to combat this threat.
Poverty
and Unemployment:
Poverty and
unemployment pose significant challenges to the modern political system. Every
government and political party sets forth manifestos and action plans to
address poverty and unemployment, but they often fail to make serious efforts
in eradicating them. The impoverished and unemployed become involved in violent
activities driven by hunger.
Ethnicity,
Linguistics, and Regionalism:
The concept of nationality has not attained the same
status in developing and poor countries as it has in developed countries.
Often, developing countries lack equal resources and production potential in
all regions. Some areas remain extremely underdeveloped, while others
experience prosperity. Residents of backward regions resort to political
violence, citing grievances related to national language and territorial
deprivation.
External
interventions:
Powerful states take advantage of the weaknesses and
poverty of vulnerable countries, intervening to capture their scarce resources
and control their foreign and political policies. They gather information
through their agencies and support violent protests and actions.
State
Terrorism:
State terrorism is employed to suppress people's rights
and coerce obedience. States sometimes blatantly violate basic human rights in
the exercise of their power.
Separatism:
Superpowers and their surrogate states often establish
relations with regional units of weaker states, inciting separatism. They
manipulate people by propagandizing regional backwardness, economic crises, and
attacks on social values, thus inciting conflicts against the security of the
region.
Methods
to Overcome Political Violence:
Political thinkers have proposed the following
suggestions to end political violence:
1:-Immediate
elimination of economic inequalities.
2:-Control
of factors causing regional divisions.
3:-Establishment
of an effective and fully independent judicial system.
4:-Improvement
of police attitudes and conduct.
5:-Elimination
of political interference in administrative matters.
6:-Re-evaluation
and eradication of sectarianism, terrorism, poverty, and unemployment.
7:-Promotion
of unity and solidarity through the examination of separatism and regional
issues.
8:-Resolution of linguistic and regional problems and cessation of external interference.
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