5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

Working Group 11 ‘Violence and Society’ and Research Committee 38 ‘Biography and
Society’ invite proposals for papers exploring the intersection of biographies and the
perpetration of violence. This theme seeks to delve into the multifaceted relationships
between personal life histories and stories, societal contexts, and various forms of violence.
Scholars have examined these intersections through diverse lenses, such as the trajectories of
perpetrators, their own experiences of victimisation, the contexts in which individuals enact,
reproduce, and survive violence, and the discourses shaping views and practices of violence.
Key concepts in sociological discussions have emerged from these overlapping themes,
including chains of violence (J. Auyero), intergenerational haunting (K. Wale), and changing
projects (R. Dobash & R. Dobash).
The main aim of this session is to foster a candid discussion about how biographies and
violence intertwine in those who inflict harm. We welcome contributions that critically
engage with theoretical frameworks, methodological innovations, and empirical findings that
illuminate these complex dynamics. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to,
perpetrators of femicide/feminicide, intimate partner violence, and workplace violence;
perpetrators' life courses, life stories, and biographical contexts; the challenges of considering
scales in biographical work about violence; the dangers of decontextualisation; and ethical,
methodological, and moral discussions in biographical research on violence.
Papers in English, Spanish, and Portuguese are welcome.