Comparing central and Eastern European mass shootings to American mass shootings

ABSTRACT

This study puts forward the first analysis of mass shootings that occurred in Central and Eastern European countries and compares them to American mass shootings. Qualitative comparative analysis is utilised to assess whether pathways of explanatory conditions are similar or different according to two samples of cases featuring 76 shootings that occurred in Central and Eastern European states and 103 that occurred in the United States. Results reveal six pathways that account for the former sample and nine for the latter. American mass shootings are more causally complex and are associated with mental illness, ideological motivations, and grievances against groups and institutions to a greater extent. American mass shootings are also more lethal, while the average age of perpetrators of both US and CEE mass shootings is around 34 years old.

KEYWORDS:

• Mass shootings
• homicide
• firearms
• aggressive behaviour
• europe

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The samples of cases analysed in this study also feature several incidents that were carried out by two offenders.

2. Information about mass shootings during the Communist era is very difficult to come by and requires access to archival police records of each given country.

3. appendix.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alexei Anisin

Alexei Anisin is a Research Associate in the Institute of Political Studies at Charles University Prague and has authored two monographs on mass shootings as well as numerous scientific studies on conflict processes.