The southern violence construct: A review of arguments, evidence, and the normative context

The problem of violence in the South has attracted an unusual amount of interest from historians, sociologists, and criminologists. The notion that the South is an inherently violent milieu and that Southerners are culturally violent people persists despite inconclusive and ambiguous research. In this essay we review the core arguments associated with the Southern violence construct (SVC) and the evidence, both qualitative and quantitative, pertaining to it. We also try to locate the controversy surrounding Southern violence within a larger normative context. Finally, we offer some suggestions for future work on this topic.