Genocides by the Oppressed: Subaltern Genocide in Theory and Practice

by Nicholas A. Robins (Editor), Adam Jones (Editor)

In the last two decades, the field of comparative genocide studies has produced an increasingly rich literature on the targeting of various groups for extermination and other atrocities, throughout history and around the contemporary world. However, the phenomenon of "genocides by the oppressed," that is, retributive genocidal actions carried out by subaltern actors, has received almost no attention. The prominence in such genocides of non-state actors, combined with the perceived moral ambiguities of retributive genocide that arise in analyzing genocidal acts "from below," have so far eluded serious investigation. Genocides by the Oppressed addresses this oversight, opening the subject of subaltern genocide for exploration by scholars of genocide, ethnic conflict, and human rights. Focusing on case studies of such genocide, the contributors explore its sociological, anthropological, psychological, symbolic, and normative dimensions.

Genres: History, Politics, Sociology

217 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This collection is an extreme disappointment. The idea behind the collection, the "genocides by the oppressed" of the title, is fascinating and an important area of exploration for genocide studies. But the collection bungles it. With only a couple of exceptions, the genocides explored are some of the same canonical cases as always: Rwanda, Cambodia, and Bosnia. That isn't necessarily the deal-breaker, but there are tantalizing mentions of slave rebellions, colonial uprisings, and peasant rebellions that are never explored. The cover depicts the slave revolt that led to Haitian independence, a fascinating case of subaltern genocide. It is barely mentioned, and only ever in passing. Most of the chapters feel like they are straining to find a thin thread of connectivity to justify their inclusion.

Everything briefly comes alive in the chapter on Bosnia, which asks some very intriguing questions and explores how Serb feelings of victimization operated during the Bosnian genocide. But other than that chapter, I never felt like I was learning anything from the book, nor was it making me think.

Adam Jones' presence is heavily felt (he authors two chapters and co-authors the introduction, in addition to being a co-editor), and I found this to be the weakest of his work I have read thus far. His tendency to cast too wide a net for cases of genocide seems even more extreme than usual, and causes him to spend more time discussing fringe works by two women fantasizing about killing men than he does about Haitian rebellions or other cases of actual genocide.

I should also note that one of the chapters in this collection is the worst work of scholarship I have ever read.