The Auron MacIntyre Show Who Commits Political Violence? | Guest: Aydin Paladin | 12/10/25
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Dec 10, 2025 Aydin Paladin, a social scientist and independent researcher known for her deep dives into political violence, joins the discussion to challenge mainstream narratives. She reveals inconsistencies in terrorism datasets, showing differing results between right-wing and left-wing violence. Aydin argues that while the left exhibits higher violent intent, they often fail in execution. They explore how power dynamics influence cycles of violence, and discuss the impact of perceived victimhood on leftist activism. Aydin also highlights the cultural skill gap in violence between political ideologies.
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Dataset Choice Shapes The Story
- Terrorism datasets (PIRIS vs GTD) show opposite pictures because of different inclusion criteria.
- Data selection, coding, and scope strongly shape conclusions about whether the right or left is 'more violent'.
Audit Terrorism Data Manually
- Manually audit large datasets before accepting headline claims.
- Trace individual incidents in GTD/PIRIS to validate categorizations and casualty counts.
Left Attacks Foiled And Less Deadly
- Left-wing plots are more likely to be uncovered and foiled before execution.
- When left-wing attacks proceed, they tend to cause fewer deaths and injuries than right-wing attacks.