The Slippery Slope to Genocide Reducing Identity Conflicts and Preventing Mass Murder

This book identifies genocide as the culmination of conflicts over identity. Genocide is a pathologically defensive reaction made by people who feel that they are in danger of extinction. This poses a security dilemma that can only be broken by quelling the feelings of threat and fear that prompt mass violence. In this volume, noted thinkers and practitioners of conflict management, who hail from ten different countries, present ideas on how to prevent identity issues from causing fear and escalating into genocide. They discuss the concepts and practices involved in changing structures and attitudes to ease tensions, as well as the measures that interveners must take to work in the midst of conflicting groups.