7.2.4   State Abuse of Force and Reaction Against It

(This is an archived page, from the Patterns of Power Edition 3 book.  Current versions are at book contents).

All States use force to enforce the law, but some use disproportionate force against their own population – sometimes citing the need to protect society against a dangerous threat.  As it is outside the framework of governance, State abuse of force is classified here as a form of Ungoverned Power. 

The following sub-sections examine the use of torture (7.2.4.1), the use of disproportionate military force (7.2.4.2), and public reactions to a State’s violent abuse of its power (7.2.4.3).