DEFINITION OF COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE

    COMMUNAL VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA, (STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)



Collective violence may be defined as: the instrumental use of violence by people who identify themselves as members of a group – whether this group is transitory or has a more permanent identity – against another group or set of individuals, in order to achieve political, economic or social objectives.

Forms of collective violence Various forms of collective violence have been recognized, including: . Wars, terrorism and other violent political conflicts that occur within or between states. State-perpetrated violence such as genocide, repression, disappearances, torture and other abuses of human rights... Organized violent crime such as banditry and gang warfare. (WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION).