Ideology and mass killing

How do we explain Russian atrocities in Ukraine? Or state terror and mass killing more generally? What role does ideology play in such violence? In research, this question is currently hotly debated. For some scholars, ideologies are crucial in providing the extremist goals and hatreds that motivate ideologically committed people to kill. But other scholars are sceptical, contending that perpetrators of mass killing rarely seem ideologically committed, and that rational self-interest or powerful forms of social pressure are more important drivers of violence than ideology.

In his new book, Ideology and Mass Killing: The Radicalized Security Politics of Genocides and Deadly Atrocities, Jonathan Leader Maynard challenges both these prevailing views, advancing an alternative 'neo-ideological' perspective which retheorises the ideological foundations of large-scale violence against civilians.

At this seminar, Leader Maynard will discuss his book's key arguments with senior researcher at DIIS Johannes Lang and consider how the neo-ideological perspective can enhance our understanding of contemporary cases, such as Russian military atrocities in Ukraine, as well as the broader dynamics of extremist ideologies and political violence.

Speakers
Will Jones, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen
Johannes Lang, Senior Researcher, DIIS
Jonathan Leader Maynard, Lecturer (Assistant Professor), King's College London

Programme
14.00-14.05     Introduction, Will Jones
14.05-14.35     Ideology and mass killing, Jonathan Leader Maynard
14.35-14.45     Response, Johannes Lang
14.45-15.15     Discussion
15.15                 Reception

The seminar was held on 18 November 2022, 14.00-15.15 at DIIS Auditorium.