Violent conflict comes in many forms. It ranges from interpersonal tensions and disputes settled in violent ways to collective ambitions and grievances pursued by taking up arms. Perhaps originally a means to an end, conflict can be self-perpetuating as those involved lose sight of their original claims and aspirations. The notion of “violence entrepreneurs” speaks to the ways in which criminal and political violence are situated on a continuum along which the legality and legitimacy of resorting to violence and the use of force are difficult to disentangle.