"We Are Fighting for the Liberation of Our People": Justifications of Violence by Activist Youth in Diepkloof, Soweto

While many may argue that violence of any sort is reprehensible, this paper has an underlying premise that collective violence is generally a form of collective action used as a last resort by actors of social movements who believe their grievances have not, or cannot, be dealt with through other methods of collective action. Collective violence, this paper contends, cannot be seen as separate from other forms of collective action; it often arises when more peaceful forms of protest fail, and intensifies in response to the repressive actions of the state.