Blood Lines: From Ethnic Pride to Ethnic Terrorism

by Vamık D. Volkan

The author analyzes how ethnic conflict is affected by the formation of group identity, the desire for revenge, and perception versus reality

Genres: Nonfiction

280 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Vamık D. Volkan (born in 1932 in Nicosia, Cyprus) is a Turkish Cypriot Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, the Senior Erik Erikson Scholar at the Erikson Institute of Education and Research of the Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and an Emeritus Training and Supervising Analyst at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, Washington, D.C. Before coming to the United States in 1957 he received his medical education at the School of Medicine, University of Ankara, Turkey. He Professor Volkan holds Honorary Doctorate degrees from Kuopio University, Finland (2005) and from Ankara University, Turkey (2006). Academic Positions and Appointments in the USA Dr. Volkan was Director of the Gender Identity Clinic, University of Virginia Medical Center (1970-1976); member of the Task Force on Psychiatry and Foreign Affairs, American Psychiatric Association (1971-1977); Acting Chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Virginia School of Medicine (1977-1978); Consultant, Agency for International Development, Cyprus Mental Health Project, Department of State, Washington, D.C. for the design and construction of a Community Mental Health Center in Lefkoșa (Nicosia), North Cyprus, with a capacity for 100 inpatients (1977-1982); Chairperson of the Advisory Committee, Division of Social Work, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center (1981-1983); Co-chair of the Sexual Deviations Study Group, American Psychoanalytic Association (1982-1992); Chairperson of the Committee on Psychiatry and Foreign Affairs, American Psychiatric Association (1983-1985); Chairperson of the Committee on International Relations, Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (1986-1996); member, Advisory Board, Center for Psychological Studies in the Nuclear Age, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts (1989-1992); member, Advisory Board, Margaret S. Mahler Research Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1992-2005); Chairperson of the Select Advisory Commission of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Critical Incident Response Group that examined the 1993 Waco, Texas incident (1995); Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts (2001); member of Working Group on Terror and Terrorism, International Psychoanalytic Association (2002-2004); Guest Instructor, Berkshires Psychoanalytic Institute, Stockbridge, MA (2007). Blue Ridge Hospital Dr. Volkan was the Medical Director of the University of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Hospital (a general hospital) (1978-1994). Center for the Study of Mind and Human Interaction (CSMHI) Dr. Volkan was Founder and Director of the Center for the Study of Mind and Human Interaction (CSMHI) (1987-2002) at the School of Medicine, University of Virginia. CSMHI applied a growing theoretical and field-proven base of knowledge to issues such as ethnic tension, racism, national identity, terrorism, societal trauma, transgenerational transmissions, leader-follower relationships, and other aspects of national and international conflict. Because no single discipline can fully illuminate such deep-seated and complex issues, CSMHI's faculty and board included experts in psychoanalysis, psychiatry, psychology, diplomacy, history, political science, and environmental policy. Their combined perspectives and experience provided in-depth analyses of political, historical, and social issues and the psychological processes that invariably exist beneath their surface.[1]

International Negotiation Network (INN) Professor Volkan was a member of the International Negotiation Network (INN) under the directorship of the former President Jimmy Carter (1989-1998). In 1987, President Carter founded INN as a flexible, informed network of former heads of state, Nobel Peace laureates, eminent persons and conflict resolution practitioners dedicated to resolving international conflicts through peaceful means. In 1992, Dr. Volkan traveled with President Carter and othe

Reviews

[Danielle Wyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative tool for analyzing the deeply rooted beliefs and values of groups. Especially those beliefs that contribute to a very strong sense of personal/shared identity. The one thing I'd like to see added to this book is the use of more psychological theories (not just Freud's framework for psychoanalysis).

[Fuad Karimli · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into the causes of ethnic conflicts through a Freudian psychoanalytic lens and the formation of group psychology and identity.

Some analyses seemed weak and the connection to real life events were overreaching at times. There was a brief connection of diplomacy and psychoanalysis, which sounded really interesting - this alone would warrant reading other books by the author.

However, it was disappointing to see that the author, who is Turkish-Cypriot, wrote the book through a clear Western lens.

[Hakan Uzunlar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geçmişte yaşanan budunsal çatışmalar ve kargaşalar, çok işlevsel kavramlarla açıklanmış. Ayrıca son dönemlerdeki, öteki düşmanlığı temelinde yükselen ulusçu ve dinci siyasal gidişin, nedenlerine ve değişkenlerine ışık tutacak nitelikle çözümlemeler var. Gerilimin ve olayların dinmediği bir ülkede yaşadığımızı düşünürsek, her yıl yine okunması yararlı olacaktır.