The Value of Violence - Hardcover

"The most insightful recent book on the relationship between politics and violence in American domestic and foreign affairs."
--Martin Shefter, professor of government, Cornell University

"Very informative, thought-provoking, and interesting.... A great beginning for students, teachers, and almost anyone who values critical thinking and seeks greater understanding of the role of violence in our world."
--Portland Book Review

"Well-researched and well-written, and it will definitely make you think. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in politics or the structures of power."
--San Francisco Book Review

"Ginsberg shows that the modern world is the product of violence and the threat of violence, both of which shape our daily lives. A model of careful analysis, this fascinating book makes us think about human conflict in new ways. Ginsberg uses a wealth of engrossing examples to show not only where violence has led us but also what it means and how we can keep it under control."
--David Satter, author of It Was a Long Time Ago, and It Never Happened Anyway

"Ginsberg's new study is important, whether or not you agree with it. It shines a searchlight on aspects of politics that mainstream approaches typically gloss over. It is also a pleasure to read, showing his characteristic combination of lucidity and insight."
--Thomas Ferguson, professor of political science, University of Massachusetts, Boston; senior fellow, Roosevelt Institute

This provocative thesis calls violence the driving force not just of war, but of politics and even social stability.
 
     Though violence is commonly deplored, political scientist Ginsberg argues that in many ways it is indispensable, unavoidable, and valuable. 

     Ginsberg sees violence manifested in society in many ways. "Law-preserving violence" (using Walter Benjamin's phrase) is the chief means by which society preserves social order. Behind the security of a stable society are the blunt instruments of the police, prisons, and the power of the bureaucratic state to coerce and manipulate.

     Ginsberg also discusses violence as a tool of social change, whether used in outright revolution or as a means of reform in public protests or the threat of insurrection. He notes that even groups committed to nonviolent tactics rely on the violent reactions of their opponents to achieve their ends. And to avoid the threat of unrest, modern states resort to social welfare systems (a prudent use of the carrot instead of the stick). 

      Emphasizing the unavoidability of violence to create major change, Ginsberg points out that few today would trade our current situation for the alternative had our forefathers not resorted to the violence of the American Revolution and the Civil War.