Taking the law into one's own hands on ideological grounds

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Abstract

This study presents a model in which the willingness to take the law into one's own hands on ideological grounds is predicted by non-commitment to the law, perceptions of procedural justice, and alienation. The model was examined using data from three identical surveys, conducted in three consecutive years, of Israeli citizens from the following groups: a representative sample of the general Jewish population (N=2680), ultra-orthodox Jews (N=400), settlers in the occupied territories (N=889), and Israeli Arabs (N=1507). Willingness to take the law into one's own hands was examined in relation to conflict between the law and moral and religious values, national security, and minority group rights. Structural equation modeling shows that non-commitment mediated the relationship between willingness to violate the law, on one hand, and perceptions of injustice and alienation, on the other. The model was found to be valid across the different social groups included in the study, different times of measurement, and different types of values.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)85-102
Number of pages18
JournalInternational Journal of the Sociology of Law
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Law

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