How do we understand this Is the continued existence of death penalty in US a form of cultural exceptionalism? High levels of violence Love affair with guns Individualised freedom Codes of masculine honour Fundamentalist religion Racial violence Does violence shape American imagination more than other countries Polls show that in UK majority support death penalty Explanation less cultural and more political Decentralised governmentHow do we understand this? • Is the continued existence of death penalty in US a form of cultural exceptionalism? – High levels of violence – Love affair with guns – Individualised freedom – Codes of masculine honour – Fundamentalist religion – Racial violence • Does violence shape American imagination more than other countries? – Polls show that in UK majority support death penalty. • Explanation less cultural and more political. – Decentralised government