Description
Covering infinitely recurrent strips of social action running from blustering confrontation to intimate physical attack, Violence is peppered with breakthrough insights, demonstrating the power of systematic theory and even concluding with that rarest of sociological contributions, a short list of eminently practical suggestions. The concept of 'forward panic' alone makes the book indispensable. This book is a milestone contribution to criminology, to micro-sociology, to the sociology of emotions, and to a field that knows no academic boundaries: the history of efforts to control violence. Randy Collins has developed a framework that should guide a generation of research. -- Jack Katz, University of California, Los Angeles I have no doubt that this book will be hailed as one of the most important works on violence ever written. After reading it, it is difficult any longer to imagine that all that is needed for violence to occur is a motive to engage in violence. Collins argues persuasively that the situation must also be right if violence is actually to occur. -- Donald Black, author of "The Social Structure of Right and Wrong" A masterful study of the microdynamics of violence. This book will undoubtedly provoke excitement and controversy among a wide group of readers, including educated nonspecialists as well as academics, journalists, law-enforcement professionals, and policymakers. Truly an original book. -- Eiko Ikegami, author of "The Taming of the Samurai"
About the Author
Randall Collins is the Dorothy Swaine Thomas Professor of Sociology and a member of the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania. His books include "Interaction Ritual Chains" (Princeton) and "The Sociology of Philosophies: A Global Theory of Intellectual Change".
Reviews
Winner of the 2011 Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award, American Sociological Association "Collins's Violence is a sourcebook for the oft-ignored and usually unseen obvious: We humans are bad at violence, even if civilization makes us a bit better at it."--David D. Laitin, Science "Violence is a rare academic work, with both a convincing reappraisal of its scholarly terrain, and enough accessibility and useful advice to attract laymen. The writing is clear and direct--sometimes with a welcome touch of the colloquial--and well illustrated with photographs and charts."--Graeme Wood, New York Sun "Offering a wealth of observations...Randall Collins's overall theory is neat: violence is not easy, hence relatively rare. It is a compelling argument."--Jane Kilby, Times Higher Education "Insofar as his analysis has sought to highlight its micro-situational aspects, he must be applauded. In the future, only interdisciplinary research will be able to approach this topic with the same vigor, and coherence as Collins has provided us in this book."--Paul Armstrong, Canadian Journal of Sociology "The book is a superb commentary on how the emotional energy created by the situation of forward panic produces violence... Collin's exhaustive treatment of the forward panic is a major contribution to the literature and the term is certain to become a standard part of our vocabulary on violence."--John M. Hagedorn, Anthropos "Professor Collins has initiated a much needed discussion of violence, unencumbered by myth and make-believe... After reading this excellent and highly readable volume, there are few myths left remain standing!"--P. A. J. Waddington, Policing "[T]he book is a notable attempt to develop a general sociological theory of interpersonal violence, and anyone interested in violence and peace can learn a great deal from it."--Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, Journal of Peace Research "[A] deeply learned, thoughtful, and erudite book... [T]he complexity of thought and the clarity of exposition of this first volume leave the reader both fulfilled and eager. Like the greatest of classical sociological thinkers, Collins is both pointillist and abstract expressionist, synthesizing micro and macro, and always asserting the power of the social."--Michael Kimmel, American Journal of Sociology "Violence overturns standard views about the root causes of violence and offers solutions for confronting it in the future."--World Book Industry
Awards
Winner of American Sociological Association: Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award 2011.
Book Information
ISBN 9780691143224
Author Randall Collins
Format Paperback
Page Count 584
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publisher Princeton University Press
Weight(grams) 794g