A multi-level approach. How and when Italy has disengaged from left-wing political violence

Abstract

This article investigates how and when left-wing armed groups disengaged from political violence in the Italian case. Analytically, bridging recent trends in social movement studies with those in political violence, it grounds its understanding of the how and when political violence ends in the dynamic relational interplay between socio-political context, organisation dynamics, and individual motivations. Empirically it does not challenge previous readings on the Italian case, but aims to suggest how and why some particular legislative measures worked in the way they have been designed to do from the state including a focus on internal organizational dynamics and societal changes, as well as on political actors responses. This article suggests that there is no single best solutions in order to reduce political violence, as state anti-terrorist policies can have different effects in different social context and different armed groups. Furthermore, the attempts to reduce violence require the involvement of non-state actors as well.