{"id":79079,"date":"2024-09-01T08:01:08","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T12:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.policechiefmagazine.org\/?p=79079"},"modified":"2024-08-29T13:06:56","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T17:06:56","slug":"interdicting-and-investigating-political-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.policechiefmagazine.org\/interdicting-and-investigating-political-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Interdicting and Investigating Political Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo by Spencer Platt\/Staff\/Getty Images.<\/small><\/span><\/p>\n

Examining the psychology of violence in today\u2019s political landscape not only is inherently complex, but it also invites scrutiny. If one analyzes specific events or references incidents as examples, any perceived lack of impartiality can result in accusations of bias or even conspiracy. This challenge arises from the polarized nature of modern politics. The dilemma isn\u2019t new; it was first noted by political activist Emma Goldman as early as 1917.1<\/sup><\/p>\n

It is a paradox of democratic systems of government that citizens are granted the right to criticize and protest against the same government that upholds their ability to do so. This tension underscores the complexities of participatory governance models, where individuals not only select their leaders but also implicitly declare their stance on key issues via voting. This process, while intended to ensure equity, can also foster division, as stark differences of opinion transform neighbors into adversaries or even perceived threats to the preferred social order of those with alternative beliefs. When political opposition becomes heated, particularly when the legitimacy of democratic processes or government institutions are called into question, the potential for political violence looms.<\/p>\n

Polarized thinking plays a significant role in the psychological origins of extreme divisiveness. It is a cognitive framework characterized by seeing situations in black-and-white terms. This mindset overly simplifies complex issues, discounting or ignoring the nuanced validity within differing viewpoints, embracing instead all-or-nothing and us-versus-them dichotomies.2<\/sup><\/p>\n

As political division intensifies, so does the propensity to see the opposition not just as competitors but as existential threats. For police officers tasked with impartially upholding every citizen\u2019s right to represent their views, it can be exceptionally difficult to appeal to involved parties with logic. Any perceived slight may result in the officers being viewed as \u201cenemies of the cause\u201d in the eyes of those invested in the issue. Officers defending the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, reported being called traitors as they were brutally assaulted.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

It is important to understand why otherwise rational individuals perceive fellow community members as enemies and how such perceptions fuel the potential for political violence.<\/p>\n

The Perfect Storm for Political Violence<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The extreme events of 2020, notably the pandemic, protests against police misconduct, and a contentious presidential election in the United States, exacerbated societal polarization and left many people feeling disconnected from other community members and anxious about the future. Social isolation coupled with ongoing exposure to news and information featuring inflammatory topics related to economic uncertainty, shifting power dynamics, racism, public health issues, and the general unravelling of perceived stability in many communities left many people feeling unmoored and disrupted acceptable standards related to public assembly and human interaction.4<\/sup><\/p>\n

Fundamentalist ideologies flourish during times of crisis when people feel that their way of life is threatened.5<\/sup> The 2020 U.S. presidential election already had an element of high stakes to it. However, when the notion that the actual will of the people had been usurped by those with interests to the contrary, polarization exponentially increased with members of each side becoming more \u201cviolently loyal\u201d and biased against those who they perceived as adversaries. Societal norms around political discourse, civility, and respect for democratic institutions was drastically upended.6<\/sup><\/p>\n

The events of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol captured the attention of the world. It bears noting that other democratic countries have also experienced significant political unrest and assaults on their governmental institutions, some in recent history, and others before the events of 2020.<\/p>\n