TY - JOUR
T1 - Contextualizing mass atrocity crimes
T2 - Moving toward a relational approach
AU - Karstedt, Susanne
PY - 2013/11
Y1 - 2013/11
N2 - Contemporary mass atrocities and genocides hold two general lessons: First, even in the course of these violent decades, genocides are rare events, and mass atrocities are not. Second, contemporary mass violence evolves in macro-and microcontexts that shape particular trajectories of conflict and violence. As the international community assumes responsibility for protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators in contemporary high-risk environments, it is important to contextualize extreme violence and genocide and to understand the microrelational structure and dynamics of mass atrocity events. This article discusses two conceptual turnsmdashatrocity crimes and extremely violent societiesmdashand identifies three trajectories that move beyond an exceptionalist perspective on mass atrocities. Dynamic concentration of deterrence is suggested as a microrelational strategy for both protection and prosecution in contemporary humanitarian crises.
AB - Contemporary mass atrocities and genocides hold two general lessons: First, even in the course of these violent decades, genocides are rare events, and mass atrocities are not. Second, contemporary mass violence evolves in macro-and microcontexts that shape particular trajectories of conflict and violence. As the international community assumes responsibility for protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators in contemporary high-risk environments, it is important to contextualize extreme violence and genocide and to understand the microrelational structure and dynamics of mass atrocity events. This article discusses two conceptual turnsmdashatrocity crimes and extremely violent societiesmdashand identifies three trajectories that move beyond an exceptionalist perspective on mass atrocities. Dynamic concentration of deterrence is suggested as a microrelational strategy for both protection and prosecution in contemporary humanitarian crises.
KW - concentration of deterrence
KW - extremely violent societies
KW - genocide
KW - mass violence
KW - responsibility to protect and prosecute
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84883149411&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-102612-134016
DO - 10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-102612-134016
M3 - Article
SN - 1550-3585
VL - 9
SP - 383
EP - 404
JO - Annual Review of Law and Social Science
JF - Annual Review of Law and Social Science
ER -