Social Torture

Chris Dolan has worked extensively with a range of organizations in Africa, Europe and South East Asia on issues related to conflict, forced migration, governance, gender & sexuality. He is Director of the Refugee Law Project at University of Makerere, Kampala, Uganda.

“Dolan succeeds in putting the multiple problems of life in the camps, resp. the protected villages, in the context of the dynamics of regional and national conflict and violence. His exploration of different groups of actors illustrates the complexity of his topic, which is certainly not only of interest  for Uganda experts but opens up new perspectives for a more general discussion of the longevity of violent conflicts and humanitarian aid in crisis areas”  ·  Peripherie“The depth, breadth and scholarliness of Dolan’s account sets it apart from other work on northern Uganda… Dolan provides an important counter narrative and a unique factual record demonstrating that all actors in northern Uganda – not just the LRA – have blood on their hands. Beyond having written an excellent book, Dolan’s real triumph will be if this counter narrative reaches beyond Social Torture’s presumably academic audience. One can only hope that ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo will read this book.”  ·  H-Africa“This book will engage, engross and enrage; it aims to drive analysis and policy makers to rethink their approaches to such conflicts.”  ·  Choice

• AcknowledgementsList of Tables, Charts & DiagramsList of IllustrationsList of AcronymsMap Of ‘Protected Villages’ in which Fieldwork Was ConductedChapter 1. IntroductionThe Mainstream Discourse of Today’s WarsBuilding Blocks of a Counter-NarrativeImpacts ActorsBenefits and FunctionsJustificationsElaborating a Model of Social TortureOverview of the BookChapter 2. The Research ProcessInstitutional SettingWorking in a ‘War Zone’Conceptual ChallengesHorizontal Segmentation or Vertical Linkages?Acknowledging Peoples’ AgencyEthical ConsiderationsMethods AdoptedComposition of the Research TeamIn-Depth Key-Informant InterviewsAudio-Visual DataMedia MonitoringResearch Integrated with Programming – The Use of Focus GroupsDealing with FindingsDiscussion and ConclusionsSubjectivity and ObjectivityChapter 3. An Overview of the Situation in Northern UgandaIntroductionThe Build-Up to WarPhase I (1986 to 1988)Phase II (1988 to 1994)Phase III (1994 to 1999)Phase IV – Amnesty for ‘Terrorists’ (2000 to 2002)Phase V – Operation Iron Fist and Its Aftermath (2002 to 2003)Phase VI – November 2003 to June 2006Phase VII – June 2006 OnwardsThe War As People Remember ItDiscussionSome Concluding QuestionsChapter 4. Reconsidering the LRA–Government DynamicIntroductionThe LRA’s AmbiguitiesCompositionThe Extent of Civilian SupportLinks with the Lord's Resistance MovementThe Role of the Media in Creating AmbiguityThe LRA’s Modus OperandiAdministration and ControlSurvival and Proxy WarfareLRA Motivations and PoliticsPolitics of RejectionThe 1994 Peace TalksDiscussionFurther Nuances and Characterisations – Local ContextRefining the Characterisations – Comparative ExperiencesAn Appraisal of the Government’s InitiativesConclusionsChapter 5. Protection As ViolationIntroductionPart I – Formation and OrganisationPhysical Layout and ShelterAdministrationMchaka-MchakaPart II – Subsistence in the CampsAccess to LandReductions in HuntingOther Alternatives to AgricultureGroup FormationFood AidProblems with DistributionDemonstration SitesCalls To Allow People To Return HomeBlock FarmingPart III – Access to EducationUniversal Primary Education (UPE) Drop-OutsTeacher MotivationSecondary SchoolingPart IV – Access to Health CarePart V – Access to ProtectionWhen Was the LRA the UPDF?People’s ResponsesDiscussion and ConclusionsChapter 6. Protection As DebilitationIntroductionPhysical DebilitationPsychological DebilitationSuicideHeavy DrinkingCultural DebilitationBurial and Funeral RitesBreakdown of Restorative JusticeDance and SongExternal Interventions, which ‘Diluted’ CultureChanging Military–Civilian RelationshipsDiscussionSigns of Resilience?ConclusionsChapter 7. Protection As HumiliationIntroductionThe Hegemonic Model of MasculinityWhat Women Are (Supposed To Be) LikeWhat Youth Are (Supposed To Be) LikeWhat Men Are (Supposed To Be) LikeMasculine RolesThe Gap between Model and Reality: Inability To Fulfil External and Internalised ExpectationsAcquisition of KnowledgeMarriage ProvisionPhysical ProtectionFurther Threats to Sense of Masculinity‘Gender’ Discourse and PracticeMilitarizationThe Impact of the Emergence of a Hegemonic ModelDomestic ViolenceIncreased Male Vulnerability to ViolenceState Benefits from the Hegemonic ModelDiscussionConclusionsChapter 8. Social Torture and the Continuation of WarIntroductionImpacts and MethodsFurther Symptoms of Torture ActorsHumanitarian Missions and MandateFailures in Assistance and ProtectionBenefits and FunctionsEconomicsPsychologicalPolitical Justifications for Action and InactionJustifying ActionJustifying InactionDiscussionLow Intensity but Wide ImpactGeographically Extensive and Time-Indifferent Multiple ActorsMultiple FunctionsSocial Torture Acquires Its Own MomentumSocial Torture Is Justified in Public Discourses, which then Become Instruments of Social TortureConclusionsChapter 9. ConclusionsSocial Torture Offers a Counter-Narrative to the Mainstream DiscourseGreed–GrievanceSocial Torture Goes beyond the Convention Against TortureSocial Torture Suggests the Need for More Comprehensive InterventionsAppendicesBibliographyIndex