Killing in the Name of Identity: A Study of Bloody Conflicts

by Vamik D. Volkan MD

“Why do we kill ‘the other’?” Vamık D. Volkan offers a compelling, humane, and universal response to a central riddle of the human condition. In this far-reaching and timely book, Volkan explains the relationship between large-group identities and massive traumas and current events and conflicts around the world, including those related to the horrific attacks of 9/11. In the process, he takes the reader deep into the dark and vulnerable collective mind of ethnic, religious, cultural, and national group conflict. Through his eyes and words, we find ourselves looking into and making contact with the universal elements present in humanity and in ourselves that converge in producing the conditions for great human tragedies. Perhaps no one understands nor writes about large-group terror and violence in a more compassionate and profoundly instructive way.

Genres: War

307 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Mary Gail O'Dea · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that provides a theoretical tent for much that has happened in this country since 9/11. Saw Volkan at the American Psychological Assoc. Annual Meeting this summer -- he was intriguing. He has been active in a plethora of diplomatic activities that include psychoanalysts. His theory of large group identity, something that remains under the radar much of the time but that can become intensified through a trauma like 9/11, is comprehensive and integrated. He theorizes that a large group can regress in that situation -- regressing instead of working through a mourning process. They become exclusionary, suspicious of those they define as "other," hyper-protective of borders, etc. -- all of which we have witnessed in some aspects since 9/11. They embrace a myth about the large group -- e.g. American exceptionalism -- whether or not facts support the myth. The myth becomes larger than truth and is defended even if it means killing innocent others or resorting to sadistic actions -- e.g. waterboarding. The US is diverse enough that this is unlikely to become as pervasive as say Estonian demonization of Russians, or Serbian and Bosnian mutual hatred. But, it can be nasty as we have seen. Volkan's theory also helps explain the seeming indifference to the kind of ignorance glorified by Palin and Bachmann. When a group is obsessed with preserving a myth, fact and truths and meaning can be destroyed as long as the iconic figure doing the destroying is appealing to the myth. It is scarily reminiscent in some ways of pre-Nazi Germany, but Volkan seems to think America's great religious, ethnic, racial, intellectual diversity will protect it from devolving into a Germany or a Serbia. An important book.

[fundalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ele aldığı konu ve bu konu ile ilgili çözüm süreçlerini, uygulama örneklerini anlatması itibariyle önemli bir kitap bence. Sanıyorum çok fazla tarihsel örnek aktarıldığı için kitap çok keyifle ilerlemedi. Yer yer sıkıldım ancak aktardığı bilgiler çok değerli olduğu için okumuş olmaktan dolayı memnunum.

[Pinar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yazarın diğer kitaplarına göre biraz sıkıcı kalsa da, yine de okunmasını tavsiye ederim. Bir miktar kitabın başlığının içeriğiyle tam örtüşmediğini düşündüm.