When Being Bad is Good? Bringing Neutralization Theory to Subcultural Narratives of Right-Wing Violence. (2nd June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Colvin, Sarah; Pisoiu, Daniela
• Is Part Of: Studies in conflict and terrorism. Volume 43:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 493
• Page End: 508
• Publication Date: 2020-06-02
• Subjects: Social conflict -- Periodicals; Terrorism -- Periodicals; 303.6
• DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2018.1452754
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-610X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Bringing together terrorism studies, subcultural theory, and narrative criminology, we here test the thesis that neutralization theory might be (further) developed to provide a framework for understanding stories of ideologically informed subcultural violence. Beginning with Gresham Sykes's and David Matza's original five neutralizations, we illustrate how actors engage them in three modes: the encultured, the subcultural, and (tentatively) the postnarrative mode. We test the first two modes in particular against narratives and narrative fragments from interviews with men convicted of right-wing violence in Germany. Our findings provide a preliminary illustration of what neutralization theory might bring to research into political violence.