Vengeful Citizens, Violent States: A Theory of War and Revenge

Rachel M. Stein, assistant professor of political science, brings the study of revenge into the field of international relations, linking individual vengefulness to state behavior in examples from crusading in the Middle Ages and genocide in the 20th century to ancient blood feuds and modern urban riots. She argues that by employing strategically crafted rhetoric, leaders with highly vengeful populations can activate their citizens' desire for revenge and channel it into support for war.