IN “Vigilantism: An Analysis of Establishment Violence” written 50 years ago, H. Jon Rosenbaum and Peter C. Sederberg coined the term “establishment violence” to simply describe vigilantism.

Vigilantism otherwise connotes “rowdy cowboys lynching an unfortunate horse thief”. In layman terms, it is taking the law into one’s own hands. To the two scholars, vigilantism is simply establishment violence. They write: “It consists of acts or threats of coercion in violation of the formal boundaries of an established socio-political order which, however, are intended by the violators to defend that order from some form of subversion.”

According to the scholars also, vigilantism has two primary intentions: the punishment of offenders against the “established” (legal or normative) order; and the enforcement of “correct” behaviour by those belonging to the same group as the offender.

As such, vigilantism can be said to be the summary “justice” dispensed by angered crowds against “criminal” elements.

More than 20 years later in 1996, in “What Is Vigilantism?”, L. Johnston identified what he called “six necessary features” of vigilantism, three of which are: it involves planning and premeditation by those engaging in it; its participants are private citizens whose engagement is voluntary; it uses or threatens the use of force.

The last of the above corresponds with Rosenbaum and Sederberg’s vigilantism.

The dictionary meaning of vigilantism looks simpler. It is law enforcement undertaken without legal authority by a self-appointed group of people.

This graph shows the use of the word “vigilantism” over the last two centuries. 

Vigilantism must be combated. It is planned and premeditated, and uses or threatens the use of force. The police must act against it.

We must be vigilant (always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger) against crime, but we cannot be a vigilante (a participant of vigilantism). – April , 2024.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.