Explaining the Breakdown of Ethnic Relations: Why Neighbors Kill

ISBN-13: 9781405170598 / Angielski / Twarda / 2008 / 296 str.

Esses, Victoria M.

Opis

Written by an international team of renowned scholars, this volume addresses the multitude of factors that may lead to the deadly breakdown of ethnic relations. The book
- Draws on real-world case studies, such as Rwanda, Sudan, and the Second Palestinian Intifada
- Brings together original contributions and theoretical perspectives by a team of experts in psychology and related disciplines such as sociology and political science
- Identifies events and processes that can break down inhibitions against violence, and lead to mass killings and genocide
- Examines explanations that must be considered in making sense of past acts, and offers suggestions for interventions to prevent future repetitions

Recenzje

"This volume provides a striking overview of basic human motivations and societal conditions that can incite and perpetuate violence, both through the acts of individuals and the inaction of others" Linda R. Tropp, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

"Richard Vernon and Victoria Esses have brought together an outstanding group of contributors to focus on a contemporary problem, which has a long and dreadful history. I think Explaining the Breakdown of Ethnic Relations is one of the most exciting and innovative edited volumes to be published in recent years. I congratulate the editors for producing an extremely important and original contribution to the understanding of intergroup violence." Louis Penner, Wayne State University

The chapters of this compelling volume brim with urgency and breadth of scholarship. The book does more than simply summarize, review and integrate and is characterized by a real vibrancy and force which makes reading it as engaging a task as the topic itself is painful. There are points that one might contest, and gaps one might like to see filled, but such debate is the editors intent. This book will command a very broad readership and will attract many plaudits. The real tragedy, of course, is that such a volume is so very necessary. Alex Haslam, University of Exeter

Spis treści

Notes on Contributors.

Series Preface.

Acknowledgments.

1 Why Neighbors Kill: An Overview: Richard A. Vernon and Victoria M. Esses (University of Western Ontario).

Part I. Individual Factors.

2 Extreme Harmdoing: A View from the Social Psychology of Justice: Carolyn L. Hafer (Brock University), James M. Olson (University of Western Ontario), and Alexandra A. Peterson (University of Toronto).

3 On the Nature of Contemporary Prejudice: From Subtle Bias to Severe Consequences: John F. Dovidio and Adam R. Pearson (Yale University), Samuel L. Gaertner (University of Delaware), and Gordon Hodson (Brock University).

4 Why Neighbors Kill: Prior Intergroup Contact and Killing of Ethnic Outgroup Neighbors: Miles Hewstone (University of Oxford), Nicole Tausch (Cardiff University), Alberto Voci (University of Padova), Jared Kenworthy (University of Texas at Arlington), Joanne Hughes (Queen s University Belfast), and Ed Cairns (University of Ulster).

5 Why Neighbors Don t Stop the Killing: The Role of Group–Based Schadenfreude: Russell Spears (Cardiff University/University of Amsterdam) and Colin Wayne Leach (University of Sussex).

Part II. Societal Factors.

6 When Neighbors Blame Neighbors: Scapegoating and the Breakdown of Ethnic Relations: Peter Glick (Lawrence University).

7 The Influence of the Threatening Transitional Context on Israeli Jews Reactions to Al Aqsa Intifada: Daniel Bar–Tal and Keren Sharvit (Tel–Aviv University).

8 Why Do States Kill Citizens? Or, Why Racism is an Insufficient Explanation: Patricia Marchak (University of British Columbia).

Part III. Synthesis.

9 Theories of Genocide: The Case of Rwanda: Howard Adelman (Griffith University).

10 Applying the Unified Instrumental Model of Group Conflict to Understanding Ethnic Conflict and Violence: The Case of Sudan: Victoria M. Esses (University of Western Ontario) and Lynne M. Jackson (King s University College at the University of Western Ontario).

11 The Origins of Genocide and Mass Killing, Prevention, Reconciliation, and their Application to Rwanda: Ervin Staub (University of Massachusetts at Amherst).

Index

O autorze

Victoria M. Esses is Professor of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Richard A. Vernon is Professor of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.

Blurb

At a time when human capacities for conflict and for cooperation seem to be at their peak, it is vital to understand the host of factors that may lead to the catastrophic deterioration of relatively peaceful relations between ethnocultural and ethnoreligious groups. In particular, how is it that groups that have shared social and public space, and have developed economic ties, can come to engage in deadly violence against one another? How do we explain acts of cruelty committed by once peaceful neighbors?

Explaining the Breakdown of Ethnic Relations addresses the multitude of factors that may lead to the collapse of ethnic relations using both real–world case studies and theoretical perspectives from a variety of disciplines. Though their perspectives differ, the original, contributed chapters in this volume all attempt to identify events and processes that can break down inhibitions against violence, and lead to mass killings and genocide. Together, they describe the different levels and kinds of explanations that must be considered if we are to make sense of past acts and prevent repetition. There are powerful messages here that will be of interest and relevance to social scientists and policy–makers alike.