Power and Violence

 

“Violence can always destroy power; from the barrel of a weapon develops the most effective command, resulting in the most instantaneous and perfect obedience. What can never come out of it is power”(Arendt, 53)

 

Violence is frequently associated with our perceptions and understandings of power. We even tend to measure a country's power by its ability to use violence, for example, by looking at how powerful its military is. We also link it with power when it comes to dominance and authority such as for instance police officers. Regardless of whether power is seen positively or negatively, it is still related with violence to some level. (Great Books Prof, 2021) In today's society, violence is frequently utilised as a means of retaining authority. Hannah Arendt’s text on Violence examines aggressive conduct with the goal of better understanding the factors that can lead to a better nature of human beings. (Arendt, 2021)

 

 

Exposing somebody to violence, regardless of the sort of violence, is motivated by a desire to control and dominate another person. When it comes to violence in a work related context, it's also about a system of repetitive violence, which may be either physical or mental violence, that allows one person to exert control over the situation and lives of another. The offender attempts to dominate and exercise power over the person who is subjected to the violence by employing a systematic use of various forms of violence and threats. Therefore, from my point of view, violence may be viewed as directly associated with, and viewed as a starting point of power to some extent.  

 

 

References

 

YouTube. (2021). Hannah Arendt On Violence: The Opposite of Power. YouTube. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46IoyvZ9uo. 

Arendt, H. (2021, July 18). Hannah Arendt on violence - summary and Review. Hannah Arendt On Violence - summary and review. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://culturalstudiesnow.blogspot.com/2021/07/hannah-arendt-on-violence-summary-and.html