Violentization Theory and Genocide

    Authors

    M. A. Winton

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Homicide Stud.

    Keywords

    genocide; violentization theory; Rwanda; Bosnia; Serbia; CRIMINOLOGY; INTERACTIONISM; Criminology & Penology

    Abstract

    The purpose of this article is to use Lonnie Athens' violentization theory to explain the Bosnian and Rwandan genocides. These two case studies are used to compare and contrast how the brutalization, defiance, violent dominance engagements, and virulency stages emerged prior to and during the genocides. Using published texts such as interviews with perpetrators, human rights reports, and court transcripts, qualitative content analysis is employed to test the fit between violentization theory and the two case studies. The results demonstrate that violentization theory is consistent with the data and provides an explanation of how the genocides developed and were enacted. Similarities and differences between Rwanda and Bosnia are described to explain how the perpetrators went through the violentization process, and an additional stage is added to illustrate extreme violence. Suggestions for further research using this model are provided.

    Journal Title

    Homicide Studies

    Volume

    15

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    363

    Last Page

    381

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000295599000004

    ISSN

    1088-7679

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