Where should we stand to get the best perspective on collective violence

Using critical and interactionist perspectives, sociology can improve students’ understanding of collective violence. Th is article presents a conceptual tool for teaching about this topic. Th e tool is a taxonomy of ideas about security, threat, conflict, peace and justice. Th e bottom level of the taxonomy consists of founda-tional paradigms (values and assumptions). Th e second, more detailed, level con-sists of ideologies – left, center, and right. Th e top, most detailed, level contains two discourses, the dominant “war on terrorism ” discourse, and the less influential “capitalist crisis ” discourse. Th e war on terrorism discourse is shared by the political right and center. It identifies terrorists or criminals as the main sources of violence. Th e capitalist crisis discourse represents the left in foreign policy debate, and views collective violence as responses, however, indirect, to structural violence, i.e., exploita-tion and repression. To suggest ways this taxonomy can be used, this article offers a cursory discussion of media discourse and public opinion, illustrating the role of some of these ideas in US political culture. In addition to helping students under-stand both discourses, sociologists should share the “capitalist crisis ” view with the public because it is the best for understanding collective violence and its resolution