Mass Atrocity Crimes: Understanding Dynamics, Actions and Actors?

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

Mass atrocity crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity are a relatively new area for criminological research. This form of systematic and mass violence has sparked many questions about the dynamics of such crimes, how they are organized, the different roles of different actors and how they should be addressed after the conflict has ended. This panel includes paper presentations on (1) the role of emotions in mass atrocities, (2) the characteristics of genocidal organizations, (3) the first complete analysis of the perpetrators adjudicated by the gacaca courts in Rwanda and the sanctions they received and (4) a proposed theoretical framework for understanding the role of corporations in international crimes.

Sub Unit

• Area II. Types of Offending and Victimization / 14. State and Political Crime

Individual Presentations

• The emotion dynamics of mass atrocities: Doing violence - Susanne Karstedt, University of Leeds, UK

• Genocidal Organizations - Nicole Rafter, Northeastern University

• Punishing Mass Atrocity Crimes: The Case of Rwanda - Hollie Nyseth Brehm, Ohio State University; Christopher Uggen, University of Minnesota

• The Role of Corporations in International Crimes - Annika van Baar, VU University Amsterdam; Wim Huisman, VU University Amsterdam

Discussant

• Barbora Hola, VU University Amsterdam