"On Violence" (Hannah Arendt)

"On Violence" by Hannah Arendt explores the relationship between power and violence, arguing they are different concepts. Power arises from collective agreement and shared purpose, maintaining stability through legitimacy. Violence, by contrast, is destructive and stems from a desire to overpower or coerce when power wanes. Arendt emphasizes that violence can destroy power but cannot create it—true power relies on consent and shared ideals. She also discusses how violence can be both a symptom of loss of power and a tool used to achieve certain goals, but it ultimately destabilizes societies and undermines genuine authority.