Rebels in a Rotten State: Understanding Atrocity in the Sierra Leone Civil War
The atrocities of civil wars present us with many difficult questions. How do seemingly ordinary individuals come to commit such extraordinary acts of cruelty, often against unarmed civilians? Can we ever truly understand such acts of 'evil'? Based on a wealth of original interviews with perpetrators of violence in Sierra Leone's civil war, this book provides a detailed response. Moving beyond the rigid bounds of political science, the author engages with sociology, psychology and social psychology, to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex individual motives behind seemingly senseless violence in Sierra Leone's war. Highlighting the inadequacy of current explanations that centre on the anarchic nature of brutality, or conversely, its calculated rationality, this book sheds light on the critical but hitherto neglected role played by the emotions of shame and disgust. Drawing on first-hand accounts of strategies employed by Sierra Leone's rebel commanders, it documents the manner in which rebel recruits were systematically brutalised and came to perform horrifying acts of cruelty as routine. In so doing, it offers fresh insight into the causes of extreme violence that holds relevance beyond Sierra Leone to the atrocities of contemporary civil wars.
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Rebels in a Rotten State: Understanding Atrocity in the Sierra Leone Civil War
The atrocities of civil wars present us with many difficult questions. How do seemingly ordinary individuals come to commit such extraordinary acts of cruelty, often against unarmed civilians? Can we ever truly understand such acts of 'evil'? Based on a wealth of original interviews with perpetrators of violence in Sierra Leone's civil war, this book provides a detailed response. Moving beyond the rigid bounds of political science, the author engages with sociology, psychology and social psychology, to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex individual motives behind seemingly senseless violence in Sierra Leone's war. Highlighting the inadequacy of current explanations that centre on the anarchic nature of brutality, or conversely, its calculated rationality, this book sheds light on the critical but hitherto neglected role played by the emotions of shame and disgust. Drawing on first-hand accounts of strategies employed by Sierra Leone's rebel commanders, it documents the manner in which rebel recruits were systematically brutalised and came to perform horrifying acts of cruelty as routine. In so doing, it offers fresh insight into the causes of extreme violence that holds relevance beyond Sierra Leone to the atrocities of contemporary civil wars.
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Rebels in a Rotten State: Understanding Atrocity in the Sierra Leone Civil War

Rebels in a Rotten State: Understanding Atrocity in the Sierra Leone Civil War

by Kieran Mitton
Rebels in a Rotten State: Understanding Atrocity in the Sierra Leone Civil War

Rebels in a Rotten State: Understanding Atrocity in the Sierra Leone Civil War

by Kieran Mitton

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Overview

The atrocities of civil wars present us with many difficult questions. How do seemingly ordinary individuals come to commit such extraordinary acts of cruelty, often against unarmed civilians? Can we ever truly understand such acts of 'evil'? Based on a wealth of original interviews with perpetrators of violence in Sierra Leone's civil war, this book provides a detailed response. Moving beyond the rigid bounds of political science, the author engages with sociology, psychology and social psychology, to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex individual motives behind seemingly senseless violence in Sierra Leone's war. Highlighting the inadequacy of current explanations that centre on the anarchic nature of brutality, or conversely, its calculated rationality, this book sheds light on the critical but hitherto neglected role played by the emotions of shame and disgust. Drawing on first-hand accounts of strategies employed by Sierra Leone's rebel commanders, it documents the manner in which rebel recruits were systematically brutalised and came to perform horrifying acts of cruelty as routine. In so doing, it offers fresh insight into the causes of extreme violence that holds relevance beyond Sierra Leone to the atrocities of contemporary civil wars.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780190613358
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication date: 01/10/2015
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 2 MB

About the Author

Kieran Mitton is a lecturer in International Relations in the Department of War Studies, King's College London. He has conducted extensive fieldwork on civil war atrocities in Sierra Leone and has published various articles on the reintegration of ex-combatants and electoral violence.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Atrocities and the Sierra Leonean Civil War Explanations for Sierra Leone's Atrocities The Problem of Irrational Violence Challenges in the Study of Civil War Violence Fieldwork and Interviews Terminology and Conceptual Clarifications Chapter Overview 2. Anarchy Introduction: 'New Wars' and Conflict as Collapse Neo-Malthusian Madness: Sierra Leone and New Barbarism Breakdown and the Sierra Leonean Civil War Conclusion 3. Order: Violence as Rational Introduction The Political Logic The Economic Logic Conclusion 4. Shame Introduction Shame and Extreme Violence From Powerlessness to Pride Eliminating the Threat of Shame Strengths and Limitations of the Shame Argument Conclusion 5. Disgust Introduction Disgust and Extreme Violence in Sierra Leone Rebels in a Rotten State: Division and Disgust in Sierra Leone Atrocities of Disgust Strengths and Limitations of the Disgust Argument Conclusion 6. Systematic Brutalization Introduction The Evolution of Systematic Brutalization The System of Brutalization The Irrational Violence of the Brutalized Irrational Violence Unleashed Conclusion 7. Conclusion From Anarchy to Order An Irrational Violence Framework Variations in Violent Behavior Beyond Sierra Leone The Future Bibliography Annex I: Recorded Interviews
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