Title

Violentization Theory and Genocide

Authors

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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