BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN VICTIMS OF MASS ATROCITY CRIMES AND VICTIMOLOGY RESEARCH: A CASE STUDY OF THE VICTIMS OF POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA 2007-2008

Abstract

Abstract

Victimologists have developed theories that examine the convergence of time, offenders, lifestyle, and victims as the cause of victimization. However, they have fallen short in developing theories that address the etiology of victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. This article examines existing theories developed through traditional and contemporary victim concepts and analyzes their applicability in addressing collective victimization resulting from the perpetration of international crimes in violation of the norms of international human rights and humanitarian law. As it has been with criminology, victimology has overlooked research on collective victimization that results from wars and other civil unrest around the world. This investigation has been privatized to other disciplines, such as, international law and human rights, political science, and history, just to mention a few.  Perhaps this investigation is within victimology’s research province. This article therefore examines selected victimization theories and evaluates the place of victimology in explaining the etiology of victims of mass atrocity crimes while drawing examples from the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya.

Key words: Dehumanization, international crimes, differential association, international   criminal victimization