By Ioanna Saliaka
Political violence has evolved beyond traditional terrorism and insurgency into a more complex phenomenon embedded within democratic societies. Rising political polarization, institutional distrust, digital radicalization, identity-based mobilization, and social fragmentation have transformed the nature of contemporary conflict, blurring the boundaries between political competition, extremism, and violence. This monograph examines the multidimensional drivers of political violence through political, psychological, social, and structural perspectives.
Drawing upon contemporary academic literature, international security assessments, and comparative case studies, the study explores domestic terrorism, left- and right-wing extremism, transnational ideological networks, and the growing influence of online ecosystems in facilitating radicalization and violent mobilization. Particular emphasis is placed on the emergence of decentralized and lone-actor violence, hybrid extremist ideologies, and the psychological mechanisms—including moral disengagement, dehumanization, and identity fusion-that reduce barriers to violent behaviour.
The publication argues that political violence should not be understood solely as a security threat but as the outcome of interacting political, economic, technological, and societal dynamics. While polarization alone does not directly generate violence, it creates environments in which hostility becomes increasingly normalized and violence more easily justified by a small minority of actors.
Finally, the monograph assesses the implications of these developments for democratic governance, public trust, social cohesion, and national security. It concludes that strengthening democratic resilience requires comprehensive strategies that extend beyond traditional counterterrorism, incorporating institutional resilience, civic education, digital literacy, community engagement, and policies addressing the underlying conditions that enable radicalization. The study provides a contemporary framework for understanding one of the most significant governance and security challenges facing democratic societies in the twenty-first century.
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