The Thin Line of Order: Why We Turn to Violence
It is a jarring experience to witness the thin veneer of civil society peel away in a matter of seconds. What begins as a verbal disagreement at a local establishment can rapidly devolve into a display of "might makes right," leaving bystanders to wonder why the first instinct of many is to use their fists rather than the phone to call for proper authorities. The incident I witnessed at Seven Waves in Makumbura serves as a poignant case study in the breakdown of social and legal norms. 1. The Erosion of Institutional Trust One of the primary drivers of vigilantism or taking the law into one’s own hands, is a profound lack of faith in the "existing apparatus." When people believe that the police will be too slow, that the legal system is too cumbersome, or that a "minor" nuisance like a street performer won't be prioritized by the state, they often feel empowered to act as judge, jury, and executioner. In their minds, they aren't breaking t...
