Narratives of Victimhood and Perpetration

The book concentrates on the construction of the trans-generational understanding of the labels of victim and perpetrator in contemporary society, investigating their impact on the diasporic consciousness of Rwandan and Bosnian communities in the United States, as well as their political participation and involvement. The book challenges the common assumption that the notion of trauma belongs almost exclusively to the victim, often leaving descendants of the perpetrator ignored and blamed through multiple generations. The comprehensive analysis in this book is rooted in both the author’s experience as a survivor of genocide and her deep understanding of the various social and political dynamics that shape the lives of immigrant communities.

Claudine A. Kuradusenge-McLeod, originally from Rwanda, is Professorial Lecturer of Conflict Resolution and International Affairs at the School of International Service, American University. She is the author of "Denied Victimhood and Contested Narratives: The Case of Hutu Diaspora" and "Belgian Hutu Diaspora Narratives of Victimhood and Trauma." She is an educator, researcher, activist, and scholar who specializes in complex identity formation, diaspora and transnational studies, and genocide studies. Her research has taken her to Europe, Brazil, Africa, and the United States. As a conflict resolution scholar, she is involved in nongovernmental work on youth engagement and empowerment, multicultural (racial and ethnic) dialogue, genocide prevention, and post-conflict trauma healing.