ABSTRACT
Sartre’s organizations come under scrutiny in Chapter 6, when homicidal ideation and murderous imagination turn into armed struggle and civil war. This chapter finds a useful starting point in Schmitt’s work, particularly his observations on irregular fighters, their political commitment, mobility and tellurian character. It then looks at the links armed organizations try to establish with nonviolent contentious groups. Some emotional aspects of joining armed struggle are examined, while the main case study presented pertains to the African National Congress. Armed struggle may be successful or not, and under certain circumstances, can even turn into open civil war. The chapter traces the origin of this particular form of political violence, starting with the sharp distinction made in ancient Greece between violent conflict against external enemies and among or within cities.
