Abstract ▼

In books and articles focused on the problem of homegrown terrorism authors from different countries mostly describe this kind of terrorism in very different ways. Usually, homegrown terrorism is connected with the promotion of violent radicalization and different forms of ideologically based violence. The Internet especially has aided in facilitating violent radicalization and the process of homegrown terrorism in the United States and in the EU. Understanding the motivational factors that lead to violent radicalization and homegrown terrorism or other forms of ideologically based violence is a vital step toward eradicating these threats. The USA and Europe devote a lot of attention to Islamic terrorism because of the post 9/11 legacy both in terms of the threats and in terms of the anti-terrorist policy.

Abstract ▼

Conventional wisdom uses to link support for repression and punitivity to a high level or a sudden increase of crime statistics. According to this approach, citizens should support capital punishment as a reaction to more crime. However, this is not supported by social science research. The evidence from the case studies as well as from the public opinion surveys suggests a strong link between fear and repression, however fear can, but need not be connected to high crime rates. The paper presents an overview of the most recent literature on repression, punitivity and support for death penalty of two selected case studies, which are based on social surveys in Poland and Scotland. They show that authoritarian values and xenophobia contribute more to support for capital punishment than any other factor examined. The study then discusses some practical implications emanating from the lack of correlation between the actual crime rates on one hand, and punitive attitudes and threat perceptions on the other. It argues that authoritarian and xenophobic societies may increase support for capital punishment even in situations when crime rates decrease and the police becomes more efficient.

Abstract ▼

The aim of this article is to show the broad picture of criminal relations in sub-optimally developed societies. It is Africa which has been the home for the biggest number of developing countries for many years now. However, due to an enormous diversity of the continent, the main focus of this paper will be the region of East Africa, which consists of thirteen countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, as well as the Indian Ocean islands off the East African coast: Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius and Madagascar. This article will search for the answer to the question of whether or not there are growing trends of concern, and whether they pose a significant threat to the stability of the societies of East Africa.

Abstract ▼

The paper uses Galtung’s conflict (ABC) triangle model that explains creation of conflict formations and Collier and Hoeffler concept of “greed and grievance”, which analyzes the main reasons for outbreaks of civil wars in order to demonstrate how the unequal distribution of oil revenues in African countries and social divisions created in this way may induce violent intrastate conflicts. A theoretical framework is then applied on the case study of Sudan where conditions above mention are widely present and where conflict may occur in the near future.