Reappraising Legal, Political and Ethical Questions Concerning the Herero and Nama Genocide

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“In the face of such ‘unspeakable truths,’ wouldn’t it be better to simply, quietly bow down?” (Kora Andrieu: Sorry for the Genocide, 2009). This book takes an interdisciplinary approach to the question of colonial crimes. In order to reconcile with massive systemic injustice, not only the historical foundations and legal questions are relevant, but also political viewpoints and peace ethics. The book demonstrates that, in the face of extreme violence, even genocide, a political apology can be an effective tool for conflict transformation, even when the injustice is far in the past.
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Julia Böcker, is a peace educator and mediator. She studied history and international law (MA) and peace & security studies (MPS). After chapters in Switzerland, Israel and the USA, she works for the Center of Ethical Education in the Armed Forces in Hamburg, Germany. Dealing with the past is a main focus of her research interest.
Preface

Acknowledgements

List of Maps

1Introduction
 1 Starting Position: Diagnosing the Problem

 2 Enquiry/Key Questions, Aims, Research Hypotheses

 3 Methodical Approach and Structure of This Paper

 4 Sources and Current State of Literature and Research

 5 Political and Scientific Relevance of This Paper


2Historical Background Genocide in the Colony
 1 Colonial Rule in German South West Africa

 2 Eroding the Limits of Violence in War (1904 to 1908)

 3 Concentration Camps and Forced Labour

 4 Consequences in the Resent


3On Legal Reappraisal Category Genocide
 1 A Crime against Human Rights?

 2 Answers Derived from Genocide Research

 3 Judicial Reappraisal of the Colonial Injustice


4Approaches of Political Reappraisal
 1 Forgetting, Suppressing, Avoiding

 2 Development Aid as Compensation?

 3 The ‘G-Word’ and Breaking Taboos

 4 Politicising Colonial Injustice

 5 German-Namibian Talks


5An Ethical and Moral Approach The Way of Apology
 1 Requirements of a Political Apology

 2 2004 Memorial Ceremony on the Waterberg – ‘Forgive Us Our Trespasses’

 3 Non-political Apologies

 4 Impetus from Political Actors

 5 Prospects of a Plea for Forgiveness


Conclusion
 1 Summary

 2 Policy Recommendation

 3 Other Means of Reappraisal

 4 Outlook


Afterword

Appendix

Sources and Literature

Decision makers in policy and practice, academic researchers and students in the related fields, all readers interested in questions of dealing with the past
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