Sociology of the Siege January 20, 2021
Since the January 6 Assault on Capitol Hill, scholars, reporters, and politicians have tried to make sense of the violent insurrection. Many draw from fundamental sociological lessons to make sense of violence, place it in historical context, and help readers navigate the ongoing political turmoil. (A collection of posts from recent years on Contexts captures this potential.) Sociology offers theories and methodologies that are useful in analyzing violent political events like the Trump insurrection. The following paragraphs draw on classic studies of nationalism, violence, and comparative methods to demonstrate how reporters, politicians, and scholars alike are using sociological concepts and ideas to understand this historic event.