Terrorism as Moralistic Violence
Product details
- ISBN 9780367484569
- Weight: 600g
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 22 Jan 2026
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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This book develops and applies the theory of lethal moralism to explain the different types and growth of terrorism over the last half-century, from 1970 to 2020.
Drawing on data from the Global Terrorism Database, supplemented with original research differentiating groups based on their ideological orientations, it delves into the social and cultural forces that influence those who engage in terrorism, including the dynamic processes of "othering" that produce the social polarization crucial for understanding why some groups resort to lethal violence to handle their grievances. It systematically applies the theory of lethal moralism to explain the main types of terrorism rooted in different ideological frameworks, including left-wing terrorism, nationalist and separatist movements, religious terrorism (including a separate chapter on radical Islam), and right-wing extremism and hate groups.
As a theoretically informed study of the main varieties of terrorism and the evolution of terrorism in the digital age, Terrorism as Moralistic Violence will appeal to scholars of sociology, criminology, social theory, and politics with interests in political violence and terrorist movements.
Joseph H. Michalski is a professor in the Department of Sociology and the inaugural King’s Research Excellence Chair at King’s University College at Western University. He has authored more than 100 scholarly articles and analytic reports. His previous books include An Integrated Investigation of Family Violence and Sociological Theory, Methods, and Perspectives.
