Why does politics turn to violence? This is a question that reflects many acts of violence throughout history. Chapter 22 in the Edkins and Zehfuss textbook analyses this theme with examples from historical mass killings such as the Holocaust and the mass murder that happened in Rwanda. This chapter uses an illustrative example of killing during wartime to explain the phenomenon that follows politics and violence with sub topics that include common reasons people have killed such as “it was either him or me” ( Edkins. page 910-913) The following pages will analyze the chapter while using the Realist theory to support the themes that carry throughout the chapter.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Realism as “Concern for the fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.”(Merriam). Before we delve into how this theory pertains to chapter…show more content… Language in war is a very important aspect. People in times of war like seeing others depicted as heroes. It makes what is actually happening less revolting to the public and the combatants feel good about themselves. It also helps soldiers with the killing if their enemy is depicted as an object and not as a person. The book uses the Rwandan war as an example. The Tutsis were described as cockroaches and the Hutus were told to remove tall weeds as well as “shoots”. These being metaphors for adults and children (Edkins, Page 929). This way of thinking allows people to kill easier.
Generally after wartime the connection between politics and murder is hidden by rewriting what actually happened during wartime. History books try to cover it up by placing blame other places and making it seem like a noble cause. Memories are rewritten and shaped. For example after the Holocaust in West Germany, Nazi crimes were created “in the name of” German’s instead of “by” those. (Edkins, Page 933). People do not like to remember bad memories. Instead they like heroic
