For the past few years, we have been living in a world at war. From Sudan to Gaza to Ukraine, civil conflicts and interstate wars remain at their highest levels since the end of World War II. But perhaps more notable than the “return” of these traditional forms of conflict is that we are also witnessing, both within states and between them, a corresponding general acceptance and even encouragement of violence. Indeed, it is hard to escape the conclusion that the world has entered a period of blatant lawlessness and disorder.
Many countries have seen a rise in political violence, notably but not exclusively within the United States. The assassination last week of the ultraconservative political influencer Charlie Kirk is just the latest in a string of such attacks on both activists and politicians. These include the killing of State Rep. Melissa Hortman of Minnesota and the attempted assassination of Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania this year, as well as the two attempted assassinations of then-candidate Donald Trump last year.
Of course, this trend didn’t start recently, as the violence committed by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, should remind us. And while the United States is a notable example of such violence, it is not the only one. Brazil saw a similar coup attempt in January 2023, following its presidential election the previous October. Cartel violence in Mexico has taken on an increasingly political nature. And Europe is also witnessing a notable rise in politically motivated violence, against both elected officials and asylum-seekers.
