Description
Book SynopsisThe book concentrates on the construction of the trans-generational understanding of the labels of victim and perpetrator in contemporary society, investigating their impact on the diasporic consciousness of Rwandan and Bosnian communities in the United States, as well as their political participation and involvement. The book challenges the common assumption that the notion of trauma belongs almost exclusively to the victim, often leaving descendants of the perpetrator ignored and blamed through multiple generations. The comprehensive analysis in this book is rooted in both the author's experience as a survivor of genocide and her deep understanding of the various social and political dynamics that shape the lives of immigrant communities.
Trade Review“The book concentrates on the construction of the trans-generational understanding of labels of victim and perpetrator in contemporary society, investigating their impact on the diasporic consciousness of Rwandan and Bosnian communities in the United States, as well as their political participation and involvement. The book challenges the common assumption that the notion of trauma belongs almost exclusively to the victim which often leaves the perpetrator ignored and blamed through multiple generations. The comprehensive analysis in this book is rooted in both the author’s life experience, as a genocide survivor, and her deep understanding of the different social and political dynamics that shape the lives of immigrant communities.” —Karina Korostelina, Professor of Conflict Analysis and Resolution and Director of the Program on Prevention of Mass Violence and the Program on History, Memory, and Conflict, George Mason University
“Claudine Kuradusenge-McLeod has produced a valuable and insightful study of the legacies of genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia, and the diaspora identity politics that a new generation of Rwandans and Bosnians must navigate. This book brings to life the conflicts, dilemmas, and everyday struggles of diasporic youth, many of whom have never lived in Rwanda or the Balkans, who must reconcile the cultural identities of their parents, with imposed victim and perpetrator identities, and the realities of their experiences and lives in countries where their parents have settled.” —Douglas Irvin-Erickson, Assistant Professor and Director of The Raphaël Lemkin Genocide Prevention Program, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
Table of ContentsPreface – Acknowledgments – List of Abbreviations – Introduction: The Stories of New Generations – Who Have We Become? Exploring Identities in the Wake of Trauma and Social Categorization – Diaspora Communities: A Bridge Between Two Nations – Bosnian Historical Narratives of Instability – Rwanda’s Troubling History and Current Instability – Victimhood Identity and its Marginalizing Effects – The Burden of Perpetration – Emotions of Shame, Guilt, and Pride – Diaspora Communities Fight for Assimilation – New Waves of Participation – Conclusion: The Legacy of Labels – Index.
