Reflections on violence and power from an Arendtian perspective

Abstract

This article revisits the discussion surrounding violence through the work of Hannah Arendt, aiming to understand its relevance and depth in light of the political events of the present century, particularly in Venezuela. Arendt's argument is interwoven with the historical experience of totalitarianism, and from this foundation, categories are constructed that allow for a clearer understanding of the devastating effects that arise when violence replaces power and destroys the space of discourse. Elements from her work On Violence are drawn upon and connected to the production of inert subjects, the emptying of political language, and the symbolic use of violence as a form of domination. All of this is presented as a warning: politics dies where words become slogans and action becomes obedience. Arendt does not offer formulas, but rather keys to resist, to think, and to preserve plurality as the essence of humanity.