Download Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide, and the Long Term Effects of Ethnic

Ethnic Cleansing,
Genocide, and the Long
Term Effects of Ethnic
Violence
What is Ethnic Cleansing?
What is Genocide?
Definitions
Definitions Continued
• The term ethnic cleansing has been called
irresponsible by some.
• To cleanse something means to make it clean or
pure.
• Ethnic Cleansing hides the reference of the removal,
violence against, and often murder of people based
on ethnicity, political affiliation, or religion.
History
There have been many acts of genocide
throughout history:
•
The Spanish Inquisition.
•
The mass killing and forced relocation of American Natives by
European Settlers.
•
Nazi genocide of the Jews.
•
Rwandan genocide of Tutsi by Hutu majority
•
Bosnian-Serb genocide of Bosnian Muslim and Croatian civilians.
•
Countless other mass killings of ethnic, political, or religious groups
across the world.
Reasons for Ethnic Conflict
Removal of politically unreliable groups.
Philosophy of ethnic or racial
superiority.
Removal of certain religious groups.
Since 1960, ¾ of ethnic conflicts have a
religious component (Stefan, 2010).
Atrocities of Genocide
•
Genocide involves murder, serious physical and mental harm, imposing measures
against a group that prevent birth, and forcibly transferring children of a group to
another group.
•
Historical acts of genocide or “ethnic cleansing” have involved rape, poisoning,
burning, crucifying, forced sterilization, and removal of children from parents.
Effects of Genocide on
Victim and Perpetrator
Psychological Effects on Victims of
Genocide
•
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the most common effect that
genocide has on victims
•
Also common are a chronic sense of anxiety, depression, guilt,
cognitive disturbances, and personality problems.
•
Some researchers have noted a positive phenomena amongst survivors,
including “resilience, meaning-making, coping, and post-traumatic
growth, which includes altruism” (Bilewicz and Vollhardt, 2013).
•
Some variation in symptoms was shown to happen to people with
different country of origin, physical health, sex, and age.
Psychological Effects of
Perpetrators of Genocide
• Descendents of genocide perpetrators have exonerated their
ancestors misdeeds by blaming the time period and victim
group as unstable (Bilewicz and Vollhardt, 2013).
• Not all perpetrator groups have exonerated their ancestors.
• Children and Grandchildren of Nazi Perpetrators have engaged
in dialogue with the descendents of Holocaust victim
descendents.
• Emotions such as collective guilt, shame, remorse, or regret
were found in several studies in response to reminders of
crimes committed by descendents of perpetrators (Bilewicz and
Vollhardt, 2013).
Community Recovery From
the Effects Genocide
Community, or Collective
Recovery
• Genocide is a group process, making community recovery an
essential component to healing.
• Collective Recovery is different from clinical treatment with
groups of people.
• Collective Recovery “promotes resilience and reengagement
with community” (Pearlmen, 2013).
• While effective at reaching large numbers of people, Collective
Recovery models might now be sufficient for all who are
affected by genocide. For these people, individualized
interventions and therapy are appropriate.
References
Anne Pearlman, L. (2013). Restoring Self in Community: Collective Approaches to Psychological Traum
after Genocide. Journal Of Social Issues, 69(1), 111-124. doi:10.1111/josi.12006
Barel, E., Van IJzendoorn, M. H., Sagi-Schwartz, A., & Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J. (2010). Surviving the
Holocaust: A meta-analysis of the long-term sequelae of a genocide. Psychological Bulletin,
136(5), 677-698. doi:10.1037/a0020339
Cordell, Karl; Wolff, Stefan (2010). Routledge Handbook of Ethnic Conflict. Retrieved from http://
www.eblib.com
Hayden, R. (2007). 'Ethnic cleansing' and 'genocide'. European Journal Of Public Health, 17(6), 546-547. doi:
10.1093/eurpub/ckm080
No place like home; Ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. (2012, November 3). The Economist, 405(8809), 14(US).
Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.library.wwu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GA
%7CA307037903&v=2.1&u=wwu_wilson&it=r&p=CPI&sw=w&asid=fa207527393309c1ab94e18bf206f4ac
Pegorier, Clotilde (2013). Ethnic Cleansing : A Legal Qualification. Retrieved from http://www.eblib.com
Peltonen, Hannes (2013). International Responsibility and Grave Humanitarian Crises : Collective Provision
for Human Security. Retrieved from http://www.eblib.com
Vollhardt, J., & Bilewicz, M. (2013). After the Genocide: Psychological Perspectives on Victim, Bystander, and
Perpetrator Groups. Journal Of Social Issues, 69(1), 1-15. doi:10.1111/josi.12000