pogromist

A pogromist is an individual who participates in or incites a pogrom. A pogrom is a violent riot incited with the aim of massacre or persecution of a religious or ethnic group, particularly Jews. The term itself originates from Russian and literally means "destruction, demolition, devastation." Pogroms have historically been characterized by widespread violence, looting, and destruction of property, often accompanied by murder and other atrocities.

The historical context of pogroms is largely associated with Eastern Europe, particularly in the Russian Empire and its successor states, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, similar acts of mob violence against minority groups have occurred in various times and places. The motivations behind pogroms have been complex, often involving a combination of economic grievances, religious animosity, political manipulation, and scapegoating. Individuals who identified as pogromists were typically part of a mob that carried out these acts of violence, acting with varying degrees of individual agency or as directed by instigators. The concept of a pogromist is therefore tied to the perpetration of collective violence against a targeted group.