Speaker : Elisabeth Jean Wood (University of Yale). Discussants : Juan Masullo Jimenez (EUI) and Alexandra Ana (SNS)

Much of the literature assumes that when rape occurs frequently on the part of an armed organization, it is a strategy. If by “strategic rape,” we mean a pattern of rape purposefully adopted in order to realize group objectives, the definition begs consideration of rape that occurs but is not purposefully adopted by the organization. In contrast to the prevailing literature, I argue that many armed groups that engage in frequent rape do so as a practice: it is not ordered (even implicitly) but is tolerated by commanders. Indeed, commanders may even perceive it as costly for the realization of the organization’s goals, but do not prevent it, possibly because they judge its effective prohibition more costly still. The category includes not only opportunistic rape (for private motives, a category present in the literature) but also rape that arises from the social interactions of units on the ground. I develop a general typology of political violence that illuminates differences between violence that occurs as a practice or as a strategy. I analyze the conditions under which rape is likely to be prevalent as a practice and different forms of rape as a practice. I conclude with an assessment of the argument’s implications for researchers and policy-makers, emphasizing that commanders are legally responsible for rape as a practice when the usual conditions under international law are met.

The talk will take place at the EUI Seminar room (ground floor), Villa Pagliaiuola , Via delle Palazzine 17-19  on the 21st of May from 11:00AM to 12:30 PM