ABSTRACT
Good violence—this is a primary theme of the introductory chapter. Militants of many violent conflicts tend to cast their aggression as virtuous. They often take on the warrior traits of bravery, valor, strength and a selfless devotion to the cause. In so doing, the enemy is stigmatized as inherently bad, uncivilized, brutish, wicked or inhumane. However, the notion of good violence is not limited to landscapes of bloody combat. Good violence can occur in the chambers of government legislators, the president’s office or the hallways of agency directors. In these pristine settings governmental authorities can deploy techniques to manipulate the thought processes of a targeted population group, disrupting their taken-for-granted notions about themselves and promoting a feeling of inferiority. Despite the pernicious character of such an impact, the violence is cast as virtuous through sweet-sounding messages about the need to promote the public welfare, security or property. This is symbolic violence that is presented a good for all.
