Why Politics Become Violent

A truly concrete, undisputed explanation of the emergence of ideology-based terrorism from previously peaceful political movements has to this point alluded the literature. The structural explanation comes closest to providing such an explanation, but it too is disputed and opposed by alternative theories. I therefore attempt to fulfill this gap by answering the question “why do ideology-based terrorists choose violence?” To do so, I investigate and test the viability of the structural explanation as a potential answer to this question through three case studies from across 20th century Europe, namely the Red Brigades, Francisco Franco’s Insurgency, and the 20th Century Anarchists, in which I perform a textual analysis of each group’s manifesto. Across all three groups, transcending their differing ideology, I find vast and convincing support for the structural explanation, indicating that political systems, institutions, and the perceived viability to achieve ideological ends through the legitimate avenues they provide are at the center of ideological terrorists’ decision to adopt violence.