• alaphic@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    19
    ·
    6 days ago

    Isn’t that arguably only because modern governments maintain a “monopoly on violence,” essentially?

    • Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      6 days ago

      Also that monopoly has been somewhat eliminated with the increasing development of technology that allows for killing without consequences. Drones, rigged explosives, remote detonation, incendiary devices, autonomous firearms, so on. (Developments of improvised firearms, explosives, and incendiary devices with common materials has also contributed to this, along with DIY drone construction).

      At this point the correcting factor is if a state is able to control the collective perception or will of a population to a point where pacification is possible (China or UK’s surveillance states, for instance). But that is not a viable long term solution due to it simply bottling the frustrations of the populace rather than extinguishing them.

      After all, in JFK’s famous words, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable”. With ideas able to be spread anywhere, no ideal can be stamped out for good, on any segment of the ideological spectrum.

      Sucks for those who wish for a cooperative world, I suppose.

      • alaphic@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        13 hours ago

        Based on your first couple of sentences, I feel like you don’t understand what the concept of the government possessing the monopoly on violence means… Like, in terms of that role socially (as in, for society) itself, or in practical terms. I’m particularly confused by you seeming to assert that technological advancement somehow had altered/was altering this… Governments have used - and I’m sure will continue to use - all of the things you mentioned and a great many more to maintain their monopoly of violence. It isn’t an actual office somewhere or anything technology can necessarily supplant, it’s more of a social construct/contract

        • Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          5 hours ago

          My comment was referring to the fact that it is difficult if not impossible for governments to restrict a civilian’s access to effective lethal weapons. Legally, a government does maintain a monopoly on violence, and they can attempt to continue restricting the civilian’s access, but the continued development of technology is eroding the barrier of entry for effective weapons.

          I understand it’s not a department or office lol, what I’m saying is any average joe now has the ability to download a single file off the internet and assemble a functional, reliable firearm with no prior experience. Or manufacture effective fragmentation IEDs. Or 3D print a lethal drone that can be controlled with a phone or a portable game console. With those developments, no population can be fully or effectively disarmed - so governments must accept that the population can be armed regardless of their wishes, and can disrupt the monopoly at any time.