Social Forces, University of North Carolina Press

Review: [untitled] Author(s): Vincent N. Parrillo Source: Social Forces, Vol. 70, No. 4 (Jun., 1992), pp. 1141-1142 Published by: University of North Carolina Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2580217 . Accessed: 06/01/2011 00:34
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Book Reviews / 1141

State Violence and EtImicity. Editedby PierreL. van den Berghe. University Press of Colorado,1990. 300 pp. $24.95.
ViNCENT PARRILLO, N. William Reviewer: PatersonCollege

Ranging from mass deportationsand forced labor to induced famines and genocide, states have often acted ruthlessly against "different' or dissident ethnic groups under their control. In fact, use of "state lethal force against unarmed, civilian populations" has occurred with lamentable frequency throughout world history. Over the past thirty years, much has been written about genocide - conceptually, analytically, and specifically. This volume's value lies not only in its blend of old and new informationwithin an intriguing conflict perspective, but also in demonstrating how state violence against ethnic groups occurs in all parts of the world, under all political ideologies, and in societies at all levels of development. Evolving from an interdisciplinarycolloquium offered by the Center for the Comparative Study of Etnicity and Nationalism (CCSEN)at the University of Washingtonin the spring of 1988, this work concentrateson twentieth-centurystate brutalities against distinct ethnic groups. Eight case studies by area specialists constitute most of the book. Deliberately excluded are studies on "politicide,"or state-sponsoredmass murder of political opponents, such as that by KhmerRouge in Kampuchea.However, conspicuously missing are chapters on genocide against Armeniansby the Turks and against Jews and Gypsies by the Nazis for the reason that they "have been so extensively documented" that there was "little in the way of original scholarship left." As editor Pierre van den Berghe concedes, this is a "glaring"absence, and one cannot help but wonder if something still could have been written about these classic horrors,perhaps in comparisonand contrastwith other state-sponsoredgenocides. In a provocative introduction, van den Berghe asserts that "states are killing machines controlled by the few to steal from the many." The pretentionof arguing that multinationalstates are not nation-states,he maintains,is a fiction sustained by international organizations like the United Nations and by much social science scholarship on the topic. This false tenet, van den Berghe charges, then becomes a rationalefor the aggressive obliterationof effinic diversity.Thus the book's focus, he informsus, will be "on the systematic use by the state of violent repressionof ethnic dissidence." An opening chapterby Leo Kuper offers a conceptualoverview of four types of genocidal states (endemic, ethnocratic, theocratic, marginal). Following van den Berghe's forceful introduction, this useful section is a smooth continuance of the book's apparent focus, preparing the reader for a series of case studies on widespread, methodical state ethnoviolence.However, that is not exactly what follows in all chapters. The book suffers from either a lack of coherent organization or else an inconsistencyin its purportedcentraltheme. The eight case studies (Ukraine,Soviet Jews, Burundi,an Israel-SouthAfricacomparison,Palestinians,Sri Lanka,American Indians, and Guatemala,in that order) appear to have no logical sequencing other than geographicalzigzagging around the world. More importantly,not all of them focus directly on state violence and ethnicity. Certainlythe chaptersabout the Hutu in Burundi,the Tamils in Sri Lanka,and the Ixil in Guatemalaare excellent and effectively reinforcethe book's main theme. The other chapters are only tangential to the theme because they principally

1142 / Social Forces 70:4,June1992 on to conflict (Israel-South Africa), responses domination concentrate eitherminority SovietJews),or - the (Ukraine, policy implementation resolution(Palestinians), furthest removed from the theme - reservationIndian mortalityrates and eachof thesechapters US. Although responses. inadequate government misdirected, the are in is an informative pieceuntoitself,together chapters toodifferent approach side to and emphasis be placedindiscriminately by side.Sometopicalgrouping resolution overtactions, responses, problem minority perhapspolicyevolution, of presentation thesediversewritings. is neededto createa morecoherent wouldhavebeena comparable amongall eight approach Evenmoredesirable case studies. The chapteron AmericanIndians,for example,could have more expulsion, forced vividly documentedthe sustained actions of annihilation, Indian As and patterns. it stands, morbidity affecting destruction segregation, habitat seemsan indictment moreof government ian thechapter ignorance of a repression on a currently wagedby by Alternatively,chapter the"genocide ecocide" technique. several South Americanstates against indigenoustribes would furnishstrong The chapteron the 1932-1933 Ukrainian material. famine,which only addresses needsto showmore peoplein its last paragraph, specificfactsaboutthe Ukrainian and clearlyhow and why the inducedfaminewas ehnic repression not a consethe in quenceof a series of purelypoliticaldecisions.Similarly, scenarios South coverage Africaand Israel offer fertile groundfor a more direct,illuminating to relevant the book'savowedfocus. This is a very good book,althoughit could have been an excellentone. The issue, for instance,providesfine chapteron Israel'soptionson the Palestinian the insightsintowhatsomesee as a hopelessmuddle.Throughout bookthereader with insightsinto the scopeand varietyof repression will be rewarded techniques and by includingcivilianvigilantism) resistance victims. (sometimes of or The Account Episodes: Management Escalation Conflict. ByPeter Schonbach. Cambridge University Press,1990.222pp.
SUNY at Albany Reviewer: RmcAisu FELSN,

rulesaremadeto be broken not,theyoftenare,resulting punishment or Whether in betweenrulebreaking punishand by the offendedparty.The simplerelationship the of conflict aggression, the and but mentprovides basisfora theory interpersonal is socialinteraction morecomplex.Offenders frequently give accountsto explain theirrulebreaking thereby and avoidthewrathof informal agentsof socialcontrol. examinesthe role of theseaccounts the management conflict. Schonbach in of He the describes interaction involvedin an account episode,in whichan actoris held for responsible some opponent a violationof normative by expectations "failure (a In the the event"). the typicalscenario, opponent engagesin a reproach, actorgives an account,and the opponentevaluatesthat account.When that evaluationis conflictis likelyto escalate. negative, Schonbach predictsthat the more severe the incidentthe more severe the that An is reproach. incident moresevereif thenormative expectations areviolated to or are important the opponent if the violationis incisive.Severereproaches in turnlead to greater defensiveness whichin turnleadsto morenegative evaluations. is The actor'sreaction defensive"to the extentthat it triesto bolsteror regaina sense of controland/or self-esteem meanswhichdo not,or do not satisfactory by the needs for controland selfsufficiently,take into consideration opponent's is This esteem." definition vagueandis notadequately in represented measurement.