Spectacle Violence Actors

Abstract

This panel argued that spectacle violence actors are often conflated under the typology of terrorist and that evidence suggests this creates blind spots in the identification of actors as well as difficulties in interruption or interdiction for law enforcement. Using an assessment of 44 case studies ranging from 1985 to the present day, they concluded that there are four distinct typologies of spectacle violence actors. A new assessment model was used to better define the motivations of violent actors. This case study and new model were used to address existing justifications for these acts and offer avenues for mitigation, rather than labelling all spectacle violence acts under the universal umbrella of “terrorism". Received: 10-03-2024 Revised: 10-30-2024