Roundtable: New Handbook on the Transformations of Political Violence

Abstract

Proposing handbook editors: Thorsten Bonacker, Marburg University Christopher Daase, Goethe University Frankfurt and Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, PRIF Jonas J. Driedger, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, PRIF Nguyễn Phạm Lam Phương, Marburg University Jannik Pfister, Hertie Foundation The editors of the new and open-access Routledge Handbook on Transformations of Political Violence propose a roundtable to discuss what the handbook’s findings and arguments entail for current and future research on political violence. Published on 12 August 2026, the handbook explores, organizes, and analyzes current research on political violence in a changing global context. Drawing from diverse disciplines – political science, sociology, anthropology, and history, as well as cultural and legal studies – this volume comprehensively surveys current research, providing an interdisciplinary overview that transcends traditional boundaries. At the heart of this volume lies the concept of ‘transformations’. This handbook delves into three pivotal questions: (1) how have forms of political violence evolved over time? (2) What role do institutions play in shaping these changes? (3) How do different stakeholders interpret and ascribe meaning to varying manifestations of political violence? Offering a systematic approach, this volume provides statistical insights and pivotal case studies, bridging epistemological and methodological boundaries. Mapping the contemporary terrain of political violence, this book provides readers with a versatile toolbox, enabling them to engage with both the dynamics of violence and the underlying political context. This work’s process-oriented paradigm facilitates dialogues between disciplines, shedding light on recent trends and providing a nuanced understanding of political violence in our complex world. At the roundtable, one editor would shortly lay out the handbook’s overarching concepts, questions, and findings. Two to four authors would then provide quick inputs on how they connected their respective chapter subjects to the overarching themes of the handbook and how this informs current and emerging research on transformations of political violence. This would be followed by Q&As with roundtable attendees. Bonacker, Thorsten; Christopher Daase; Jonas J. Driedger; Nguyễn Phạm Lam Phương; and Jannik Pfister. Routledge Handbook on Transformations of Political Violence. 1st ed. Routledge, 2026. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003635024