Abstract

This research discusses the role of visual violence as it relates to non-state actors within asymmetric warfare as a form of indirect coercion, siting the logic of Thomas Schelling. It argues that irrationality, as a perception from the state actor toward the non-state actor is a rational approach in order to produce the desired fear and publicity. The amount of fear and publicity is measured by the amount of inhumanity that is presented within the visual narration and the amount of irrational hysteria that comes from the audience. In using a comparative and visual analysis, two non-state actors who utilized visual violence, the Red Brigades and ISIS, have shown varying effects of visual violence on their targeted audience. It concludes that the visual violence, as a concept, being distinguished from its visual component and its violent component, does not have the desired impact unless the image contains the aforementioned features: the perception of irrationality and a high level of inhumanity.

Department

Political Science Department

Degree Name

MA in Political Science

Graduation Date

6-1-2017

Submission Date

May 2017

First Advisor

Pinfari, Marco

Committee Member 1

Korany, Bahgat

Committee Member 2

Hodgkins, Allison

Extent

110 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

Comments

Vanessa Korany thesis Fellowship

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