Citation

Winton MA. Homicide Stud. 2011; 15(4): 363-381.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088767911424538

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to use Lonnie Athens' violentization theory to explain the Bosnian and Rwandan genocides. These two case studies are used to compare and contrast how the brutalization, defiance, violent dominance engagements, and virulency stages emerged prior to and during the genocides. Using published texts such as interviews with perpetrators, human rights reports, and court transcripts, qualitative content analysis is employed to test the fit between violentization theory and the two case studies. The results demonstrate that violentization theory is consistent with the data and provides an explanation of how the genocides developed and were enacted. Similarities and differences between Rwanda and Bosnia are described to explain how the perpetrators went through the violentization process, and an additional stage is added to illustrate extreme violence. Suggestions for further research using this model are provided.