Ethnopolitical Warfare: Causes, Consequences, and Possible Solutions

Rating:
Summary: Genocide and violence
Review: This book adds significantly to the far too small literature attempting to explain today's worldwide epidemic of genocide and ethnic violence. My generation believed we had ended all that by defeating the Nazis. Not so; there have been a couple of dozen major genocides since, and countless minor massacres. The book at hand is a collection of chapters by psychologists (and a few other social scientists). Most of the explanatory material is taken from the area of psychology best developed in this regard: the research on categorization, stereotyping, and stigmatizing. Among the best chapters is one by Erwin Staub, who has done some of the very finest research on genocide.
An important part of this book is a series of studies of situations that did NOT turn into genocide, in spite of having the potential to do so: South Africa, the southern US.... Now ironic is the inclusion of Israel; this book was written before the recent horrors. However, the chapter is valuable; it attributes the success of Israel to precisely those features that Sharon abolished. Sure enough--Sharon abolished them, and ethnic violence blew up...
The book under review emphasizes solutions. Notable among these is the absolute, desperate need for the world community of nations to intervene! ...
In any case, anyone concerned with genocide and ethnic war should read this book. It is thought-provoking and important.

Rating:
Summary: Genocide and violence
Review: This book adds significantly to the far too small literature attempting to explain today's worldwide epidemic of genocide and ethnic violence. My generation believed we had ended all that by defeating the Nazis. Not so; there have been a couple of dozen major genocides since, and countless minor massacres. The book at hand is a collection of chapters by psychologists (and a few other social scientists). Most of the explanatory material is taken from the area of psychology best developed in this regard: the research on categorization, stereotyping, and stigmatizing. Among the best chapters is one by Erwin Staub, who has done some of the very finest research on genocide.
An important part of this book is a series of studies of situations that did NOT turn into genocide, in spite of having the potential to do so: South Africa, the southern US.... Now ironic is the inclusion of Israel; this book was written before the recent horrors. However, the chapter is valuable; it attributes the success of Israel to precisely those features that Sharon abolished. Sure enough--Sharon abolished them, and ethnic violence blew up...
The book under review emphasizes solutions. Notable among these is the absolute, desperate need for the world community of nations to intervene! ...
In any case, anyone concerned with genocide and ethnic war should read this book. It is thought-provoking and important.