Political Violence and Extremism

Political violence and extremism means the use or threat of force to reach political goals, along with the movements that promote it. It can target officials, candidates, election workers, or ordinary citizens. Law enforcement, courts, legislatures, and community groups all take part in preventing it and responding to it.

People usually ask whether political violence is rising, what causes it, and how it has been reduced in the past and in other countries. They also ask how leaders and parties shape the climate, how blame is assigned, and how violence affects policy debates such as those over guns.