j_spot, the Journal of Social and Political Thought, is pleased to announce a call for essays and media for an issue entitled "Violent Ends | Violence Ends." The editors do not wish to add to the violence done by social theory, or in its name. For our second issue, we called for "essays that strafe the bodily armour of critique." Now, in calling for articles on violence and social theory, we seek to assuage, heal and demystify. Why sacrifice when you can solve? End the witch hunts. Engender. Heal the hurting. Or, is the question of violence dead?

"Perceive the way of nature and no force of [person] can harm you. Do not meet a wave head on: avoid it. You do not have to stop force: it is easier to redirect it. Learn more ways to preserve rather than destroy. Avoid rather than check. Check rather than hurt. Hurt rather than maim. Maim rather than kill. For all life is precious nor can any be replaced." [Philip Ahn as Master Kan, Kung Fu, 1972, pilot].

Réné Girard, for example, enthused that justifications of violence, "Once understood...can no longer operate; we believe less and less in the culpability of the victims (that) they demand. Deprived of the food that sustains them, institutions derived from these mechanisms collapse one after the other around us." Julia Kristeva has critiqued violence and elaborated different ways of being with others; it may be that the unity of the nation split from within serves as a cure to reminiscences of national narratives that inflict the violence of pain and love. For Hannah Arendt, "The more dubious and uncertain an instrument violence has become in international relations, the more it has gained in reputation and appeal in domestic affairs, specifically in the matter of revolution." j_spot invites your thesis on theories of violence and violent theories.

In addition to substantial research papers, we invite creative submissions and pieces that challenge traditional academic form. Writing that breaks with traditional academic stasis—including hypertext and graphic-intensive writing—is welcome.

N.B.: j_spot always welcomes submissions and book reviews outside specific issue themes.

send submissions to: jspot@yorku.ca