Is vigilantism an "extralegal" phenomenon?

This chapter makes a critique of contemporary definitions of vigilantism in the social sciences. I demonstrate that many scholarly definitions, especially those that conceptualize vigilantism as an extralegal practice, involve problematic normative assumptions. Such definitions, I argue, often preco...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tuesta, Diego (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Punishment in Latin America
Year: 2025, Pages: 183-199
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Keywords:
Legal order
Global South
Values
Vigilantism
epistemological vigilance
extralegality
Hybridization
state-centric vigilantism
Description
Summary:This chapter makes a critique of contemporary definitions of vigilantism in the social sciences. I demonstrate that many scholarly definitions, especially those that conceptualize vigilantism as an extralegal practice, involve problematic normative assumptions. Such definitions, I argue, often preconceive that state legal classifications are neutral, objective, timeless and universal. The critical question is whether the state is the only possible locus of legality. An affirmative response would deny the existence of plural or hybrid legal orders. Furthermore, with respect to vigilantism, extralegality is an external, state-dependent property. Using it as a definitional feature thus comes with the risk of reducing vigilantism to a secondary and subordinated political order vis-á-vis the state. That risk reminds us of the importance of epistemological vigilance in every research operation–especially concept formation. The chapter finally discusses possibilities for a normative-free definition of vigilantism.
Item Description:Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 198-199
ISBN:9781837973293