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Notes -
I have an effortpost cooking - probably in a week or two - about different philosophies about secession and which of them provide cover for violence. Which touches some similar topics, but it’s not ready yet.
For now I want to emphasize that large-group action (the kind that leads to revolutions and such) is dramatically different in its dynamics and political philosophy than individual or small-group action (lone shooters through Weather Underground type groups). I think this is under-appreciated. A large group usually has more of a deliberative process, even if flawed, while individuals and small groups can get swept away by mental illness, a charismatic leader, or an extreme emotional reaction to a specific event or person in a way bigger groups who are actually capable of making more considered decisions do not. For example, the American Revolution had pretty strong buy-in across colonies and delegates were sent in many cases directly by legislatures to form what would eventually become the Continental Congress.
I think one possible more minor way to evaluate: is violence mostly for “attention” or similar? If so, 99%+ of the time this is terrorism, a bad thing, and often counterproductive to boot. You’re very rarely “defending” anything with violence in any real way. At least in most Western democratic countries, that is.
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