Violence, Interventions, and Policing (MSc)

Please note: This specialisation was formerly known as Governance of Violence

What does this master's programme entail?

In the master track Violence, Interventions, and Policing you will study various forms of interpersonal violence. Ranging from men’s violence against women, violence related to criminal activities, and protestors and police assaulting each other in episodes of public disorder. All forms of violence have in common that they often lead to personal and collective suffering and that they can contribute to feelings of fear and insecurity. In addition, illegitimate violence may lead to increasing support for extremist political agendas and possible weakening of the rule of law. In short, violence potentially undermines local, national and global security.

At the same time, the capacity to use lawful violence, often designated as use of force, is crucial to establish and maintain internal security in society—the domain of policing. Various actors are involved in policing: law enforcement, obviously, but also municipal officers, neighbourhood watches, security guards, and others.

The master track Violence, Interventions, and Policing equips you with the skills and knowledge to analyse:

• The causes and consequences of various forms of interpersonal violence. Think of questions about how and why violence emerges and ends, how cultural, social and political factors increase (or reduce) the likelihood for violence to occur, and about who the victims of violent crime and police violence are.

• Various forms of policing, their effectiveness, and legitimacy. Specific attention is given to the necessity and effectiveness of police use of force to prevent unlawful violence, how security actors such as the police and civilians can build trustworthy relationships and how internal organisational factors—such as diversity and inclusion—shape the effectiveness and legitimacy of policing.

• The interventions of security actors to prevent and mitigate the consequences of violence. Consider questions such as why some forms of violence are criminalised and others are not, why prevention programs succeed or fail, and finally, how we can design effective interventions to reduce violent harm doing.

With its focus on (the relationships between) violence, interventions, and policing, this master track therefore prepares you to contribute to the work of organisations aiming to provide security to civilians (such as municipalities, victims organizations, educators, and public and private security organizations). Academic knowledge about violence and policing is regarded as increasingly important, not only because of a growing visibility and awareness of how it affects individuals, but also because of its political and social impact.

Emma Spinelli

Student ambassador

I chose the Governance of Violence specialisation because I wanted to understand why violence is so deeply ingrained in our society. We encounter violence on a daily basis, either on the news or in our personal lives, this master’s has helped me make sense of violence and its patterns. The interdisciplinarity of the programme has shown me how various psychological, criminological, and sociological factors intersect in the production and reproduction of violent phenomena. By studying the origins, mechanisms and social contexts of violence we can identify the most effective ways to intervene or prevent it.

In this track you will:

• Acquire state-of-the-art academic knowledge of the contexts, causes and consequences of various forms of interpersonal violence, interventions and policing;

• Gain academic knowledge of, compare, and apply interdisciplinary theories of interpersonal violence and policing;

• Be trained to critically evaluate a range of theories and policies with regard to interpersonal violence, interventions, and policing;

• Be trained in research skills—literature review, data collection, data analysis, and critical review—to empirically analsze interpersonal violence, interventions, and policing.

Courses

In four specialised courses, you will explore the origins, dynamics, and social contexts of violence alongside the complex roles of policing and security actors. These courses provide a comprehensive understanding of the nature and diversity of violence, the societal and institutional responses to it, and the legal, technological, and policy frameworks that shape prevention and intervention efforts. Together, they equip you with the analytical tools and research skills necessary to critically assess violence and policing, and to develop effective strategies to mitigate and prevent violence in society.