Title

Violentization Theory And Genocide

Keywords

Bosnia; genocide; Rwanda; Serbia; violentization theory

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. © 2011 SAGE Publications.

Publication Date

11-1-2011

Publication Title

Homicide Studies

Volume

15

Issue

4

Number of Pages

363-381

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1177/1088767911424538

Socpus ID

80053600859 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/80053600859

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