Violence By Hannah Arendt: Article Analysis

The article From on Violence by Hannah Arendt discusses the theoretical view of violence being uses simply as an “instrumental character” (Hannah Arendt, 1969). I believe this is correct, however, this definition is over simplified allowing the effects of violence to be neglected. By plainly saying that violence is an instrumental character and the impacts of violence on terror are ignored. When Hannah Arendt says that violence is an instrumental character, this could mean that violence is used as a tool to gain power. This is incorrect. While violence and power often go hand in hand, violence is never used to achieve power. When violence and power are interconnected, it is because violence is a last resort to remain in power. Repeatedly, …show more content…
One example of this was during the Algerian War when Algeria was trying to gain independence from France. The French and the Algerians both used violence against each other as seen in the movie The Battle of Algiers. In this situation, the French made up the government and the Algerians were the ones revolting. Hannah Arendt would describe the French as having advantage because “in a contest of violence against violence the superiority of the government has always been absolute” (Hannah Arendt, 1969). During the movie, many different examples of violence are shown from throwing rocks to hiding bombs in purses. One of the Algerian revolutionaries recognizes that the violence is not what is going to help them win the war. He says “acts of violence don’t win wars” (Pontecorvo, 1966). Acts of violence do not win wars reiterates that violence does not achieve …show more content…
In the book, Palestine by Joe Sacco, violence can easily be seen turning into terror. This book shows the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestine in the area of Israel and the Gaza Strip. Before Israel was declared a Jewish state, it was a place for Arabs known as Palestine. The Arabs were displaced when Israel was created for the Jews creating conflict and tension between the two groups. As Arendt describes terror, it is the form of government that comes after violence has destroyed all power (Hannah Arendt, 1969). This accurately describes that situation in Israel and on the Gaza Strip. The people have used so much violence between the two different groups there is no distinct power, however, there is a government run by the Israelis with the support of western countries. The terror that has been created by the government has been targeting both individuals and groups of people. One account of terror in the book Palestine shows an individual man being taken away from his home by police and soldiers from the Israelis government. The Arab man was taken by the government because he was believed to be a part of a terrorist group. Before being brought to a judge for a fair trial, the man was held in a small dirty prison cell while having his hands tied and a cloth covering his head. He was given very little food and never the opportunity to wash until he had been