Geoffrey Campbell Cocks
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199695676
- eISBN:
- 9780191738616
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199695676.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History
The rigours of war intensified not only patriotism but further retreat into private concern for the well-being of self and body. Plunder from occupied Europe compensated for some shortages inside ...
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The rigours of war intensified not only patriotism but further retreat into private concern for the well-being of self and body. Plunder from occupied Europe compensated for some shortages inside Germany, but health in the Reich declined during the war years due to direct and indirect effects of the war. Health care was based on utility rather than need. Medical care became an arena of control over the productive capacities of the population and individual and corporate search for resources, relief, and advantage. Inside Germany illness, including epidemics, spread due to air raids, the poor health and working conditions of foreign labourers, and displacement of large numbers of civilians. Doctors, drafted in large numbers into the armed forces, were in short supply on the home front. Millions of German soldiers became physical and mental casualties. Heightened fear and suffering contributed to even greater German military brutality against foreign civilians and enemy soldiers.Less
The rigours of war intensified not only patriotism but further retreat into private concern for the well-being of self and body. Plunder from occupied Europe compensated for some shortages inside Germany, but health in the Reich declined during the war years due to direct and indirect effects of the war. Health care was based on utility rather than need. Medical care became an arena of control over the productive capacities of the population and individual and corporate search for resources, relief, and advantage. Inside Germany illness, including epidemics, spread due to air raids, the poor health and working conditions of foreign labourers, and displacement of large numbers of civilians. Doctors, drafted in large numbers into the armed forces, were in short supply on the home front. Millions of German soldiers became physical and mental casualties. Heightened fear and suffering contributed to even greater German military brutality against foreign civilians and enemy soldiers.
Alexander V. Prusin
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199297535
- eISBN:
- 9780191594328
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199297535.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History, Political History
The chapter analyses the causes and dynamics of the frontier wars fought in the borderlands between the Bolshevik revolution and the end of the Soviet‐Polish war in the fall of 1920. These wars were ...
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The chapter analyses the causes and dynamics of the frontier wars fought in the borderlands between the Bolshevik revolution and the end of the Soviet‐Polish war in the fall of 1920. These wars were crucial in changing the political profile of the former imperial provinces and in establishing the national states, which blocked the Soviet advance into Europe.Less
The chapter analyses the causes and dynamics of the frontier wars fought in the borderlands between the Bolshevik revolution and the end of the Soviet‐Polish war in the fall of 1920. These wars were crucial in changing the political profile of the former imperial provinces and in establishing the national states, which blocked the Soviet advance into Europe.
Omer Bartov
- Published in print:
- 1994
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195079036
- eISBN:
- 9780199854455
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195079036.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History
While the intellectual combination of the old military tradition with modern fighting techniques can be regarded as one of the keys to the Wehrmacht's astounding military successes, the strict ...
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While the intellectual combination of the old military tradition with modern fighting techniques can be regarded as one of the keys to the Wehrmacht's astounding military successes, the strict compliance required from the troops, and the draconian punishments meted to offenders, as this chapter proposes, played a major role in maintaining unit cohesion under the most adverse combat conditions. However, the chapter also emphasizes that in the Third Reich, especially during the war, the soldiers' submission to a disciplinary system, led to their profound brutalization because they were unpunished for such atrocious actions. This in turn, created a convenient safety valve for the army which made it possible to demand strict combat discipline, and cohesion came to depend on a perversion of the moral and legal basis of martial law.Less
While the intellectual combination of the old military tradition with modern fighting techniques can be regarded as one of the keys to the Wehrmacht's astounding military successes, the strict compliance required from the troops, and the draconian punishments meted to offenders, as this chapter proposes, played a major role in maintaining unit cohesion under the most adverse combat conditions. However, the chapter also emphasizes that in the Third Reich, especially during the war, the soldiers' submission to a disciplinary system, led to their profound brutalization because they were unpunished for such atrocious actions. This in turn, created a convenient safety valve for the army which made it possible to demand strict combat discipline, and cohesion came to depend on a perversion of the moral and legal basis of martial law.
Alan Ryan
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691148403
- eISBN:
- 9781400841950
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691148403.003.0004
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Political Philosophy
In this chapter, the author reflects on culture and what he calls “liberal anxieties.” He begins with a little autobiography, mentioning his education to make a general point about the idea of ...
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In this chapter, the author reflects on culture and what he calls “liberal anxieties.” He begins with a little autobiography, mentioning his education to make a general point about the idea of meritocracy and the pursuit of excellence. Liberalism has a natural affinity with meritocracy; it is attracted to an aristocracy of talent and critical of an aristocracy of birth. The author proceeds by discussing three major anxieties from which liberalism has suffered for 200 years, along with the fear of brutalization in Britain and America, anxiety about secularization and disenchantment, and the liberal response to terror. He also examines the interrelationships between politics, culture, and education before concluding with some remarks about the virtues of science and poetry as foundations of a liberal education.Less
In this chapter, the author reflects on culture and what he calls “liberal anxieties.” He begins with a little autobiography, mentioning his education to make a general point about the idea of meritocracy and the pursuit of excellence. Liberalism has a natural affinity with meritocracy; it is attracted to an aristocracy of talent and critical of an aristocracy of birth. The author proceeds by discussing three major anxieties from which liberalism has suffered for 200 years, along with the fear of brutalization in Britain and America, anxiety about secularization and disenchantment, and the liberal response to terror. He also examines the interrelationships between politics, culture, and education before concluding with some remarks about the virtues of science and poetry as foundations of a liberal education.
D. M. Leeson
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199598991
- eISBN:
- 9780191730597
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199598991.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Modern History, Military History
This chapter begins with an examination of British recruits for the Royal Irish Constabulary, using information obtained from a cluster sample taken from the RIC's General Register. British police ...
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This chapter begins with an examination of British recruits for the Royal Irish Constabulary, using information obtained from a cluster sample taken from the RIC's General Register. British police recruits are compared to both British Army recruits from the same period, and their opponents in the Irish Republican Army. Evidence is produced to disprove the legend that the Black and Tans were ex-convicts and social scum, and also to dispute the more recent view that they had been brutalized by their war service. The chapter then examines a number of cases in which Black and Tans were arrested and imprisoned for criminal offences ranging from bank robbery to manslaughter. In each case, the evidence indicates that certain types of criminal behaviour were not tolerated from certain types of men.Less
This chapter begins with an examination of British recruits for the Royal Irish Constabulary, using information obtained from a cluster sample taken from the RIC's General Register. British police recruits are compared to both British Army recruits from the same period, and their opponents in the Irish Republican Army. Evidence is produced to disprove the legend that the Black and Tans were ex-convicts and social scum, and also to dispute the more recent view that they had been brutalized by their war service. The chapter then examines a number of cases in which Black and Tans were arrested and imprisoned for criminal offences ranging from bank robbery to manslaughter. In each case, the evidence indicates that certain types of criminal behaviour were not tolerated from certain types of men.
Cynthia Cockburn
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520230729
- eISBN:
- 9780520937055
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520230729.003.0002
- Subject:
- Sociology, Gender and Sexuality
This chapter suggests that a gender perspective on the successive moments in the flux of peace and war is not an optional extra but a stark necessity. It shows what some of features of conflict and ...
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This chapter suggests that a gender perspective on the successive moments in the flux of peace and war is not an optional extra but a stark necessity. It shows what some of features of conflict and conflict resolution are and describes relations between them that suggest a continuum of violence. Gender power is seen to shape the dynamics of every site of human interaction, from the household to the international arena. A gender analysis reveals imbalanced sex distributions. The economic distress, militarization, and divisive shifts in ideology are considered. It then explores the three manifestly gendered elements of war: mobilization into the armed forces; the catastrophic disruption of everyday life; and brutalization of the body. The three aspects of postconflict situations are explored: displacement; economic and social reconstruction; and aid, justice, and reconciliation. The power imbalance of gender relations in most societies generates cultures of masculinity prone to violence.Less
This chapter suggests that a gender perspective on the successive moments in the flux of peace and war is not an optional extra but a stark necessity. It shows what some of features of conflict and conflict resolution are and describes relations between them that suggest a continuum of violence. Gender power is seen to shape the dynamics of every site of human interaction, from the household to the international arena. A gender analysis reveals imbalanced sex distributions. The economic distress, militarization, and divisive shifts in ideology are considered. It then explores the three manifestly gendered elements of war: mobilization into the armed forces; the catastrophic disruption of everyday life; and brutalization of the body. The three aspects of postconflict situations are explored: displacement; economic and social reconstruction; and aid, justice, and reconciliation. The power imbalance of gender relations in most societies generates cultures of masculinity prone to violence.
Kieran Mitton
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780190241582
- eISBN:
- 9780190492199
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190241582.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Conflict Politics and Policy
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 ...
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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 boundaries 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 war. Highlighting the inadequacy of current explanations that center on the anarchic nature of brutality, or conversely, its calculated rationality, this book sheds light on the critical but hitherto neglected roles 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 brutalized 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.Less
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 boundaries 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 war. Highlighting the inadequacy of current explanations that center on the anarchic nature of brutality, or conversely, its calculated rationality, this book sheds light on the critical but hitherto neglected roles 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 brutalized 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.
Kieran Mitton
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780190241582
- eISBN:
- 9780190492199
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190241582.003.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Conflict Politics and Policy
This chapter discusses the contemporary challenges faced when trying to account for extreme violence and cruelty in war. It highlights the limitations of explaining atrocity as either irrational ...
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This chapter discusses the contemporary challenges faced when trying to account for extreme violence and cruelty in war. It highlights the limitations of explaining atrocity as either irrational madness or as entirely calculated, and argues that an alternative approach is required to address this lacuna. Introducing the case study of the civil war in Sierra Leone, the chapter sets out this alternative approach. It establishes the need to engage with a deeper understanding of complex emotional and psychological dimensions to violence, explaining why we need to better understand such concepts as “brutalization.” It describes the challenges of researching violence in a post-war context, including securing the testimonies of perpetrators of atrocities, and explains how these challenges have been tackled. The chapter concludes with an overview of the book’s structure and central arguments.Less
This chapter discusses the contemporary challenges faced when trying to account for extreme violence and cruelty in war. It highlights the limitations of explaining atrocity as either irrational madness or as entirely calculated, and argues that an alternative approach is required to address this lacuna. Introducing the case study of the civil war in Sierra Leone, the chapter sets out this alternative approach. It establishes the need to engage with a deeper understanding of complex emotional and psychological dimensions to violence, explaining why we need to better understand such concepts as “brutalization.” It describes the challenges of researching violence in a post-war context, including securing the testimonies of perpetrators of atrocities, and explains how these challenges have been tackled. The chapter concludes with an overview of the book’s structure and central arguments.
Kieran Mitton
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780190241582
- eISBN:
- 9780190492199
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190241582.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Conflict Politics and Policy
Chapter 6 examines questions about cruelty and the enjoyment of violence through an examination of systematic brutalization in Sierra Leone’s civil war. It seeks to identify the principal mechanisms ...
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Chapter 6 examines questions about cruelty and the enjoyment of violence through an examination of systematic brutalization in Sierra Leone’s civil war. It seeks to identify the principal mechanisms of the process by which combatants, particularly young rebel conscripts and child soldiers, were actively encouraged to commit atrocity and become inured to brutality. It argues that commanders manipulated and harnessed this brutality for strategic ends, yet it resulted in atrocities that were often perpetrated for their own intrinsic rewards. In doing so, the chapter traces the evolution of violence in the conflict, returning to elements of the “Derailment Argument” (as discussed in Chapter 3) to show how factors such as decreased military discipline, and exposure of combatants to urban areas, served to unleash atrocities stemming from perpetrators’ conditioning to violence, rather than from tactical or strategic considerations.Less
Chapter 6 examines questions about cruelty and the enjoyment of violence through an examination of systematic brutalization in Sierra Leone’s civil war. It seeks to identify the principal mechanisms of the process by which combatants, particularly young rebel conscripts and child soldiers, were actively encouraged to commit atrocity and become inured to brutality. It argues that commanders manipulated and harnessed this brutality for strategic ends, yet it resulted in atrocities that were often perpetrated for their own intrinsic rewards. In doing so, the chapter traces the evolution of violence in the conflict, returning to elements of the “Derailment Argument” (as discussed in Chapter 3) to show how factors such as decreased military discipline, and exposure of combatants to urban areas, served to unleash atrocities stemming from perpetrators’ conditioning to violence, rather than from tactical or strategic considerations.