The usual major themes in political violence continue to affect global governance. Intellectual resistance to control & censorship approaches are currently limited, hence the rise of ire
and will to physically object and retaliate amongst disenfranchised publics.
The week’s CTCB State of Play Newsletter, No. 4, touches on the advantages and disadvantages of free speech versus censoring crackdowns. Whether this is ultimately accelerating or
mitigating aggregate violent incidents is unknown, but the effects on public spaces are changing best-practice for urban design in the developed world.
Previously relying on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for security against jihadist and school shooter attacks, the changing trend of mass unrest will determine a
new format of political violence. Riots and barricade-sieges versus lone actor attacks may rise proportionally, for example. It will take a variety of context-based information, perhaps
from conflict zones or traditional architecture, to determine what physical structures will generate better sociopolitical norms and facilitate peaceful state and public actions.
Lastly, some food for thought on a brain structure that plays a role in threat learning, detection, and response. The amygdala and its effect on information processing and aversive
behaviour is probably one significantly involved in political radicalisation. Due to current circumstances of uncertainty, prolonged stress, and media sensationalism, this organ may be
becoming more influential in the minds of people around the world.