Meanings of violence : a cross cultural perspective

The case studies collected in this volume suggest that 'violence' is not a simple, universal urge, but is contingent and context-dependent, shaped by social relations of power, force and dominance. The contributions identify the symbolic and ritualized aspects of violence and suggest ways of 'reading' violence as it occurs in different situations. Two case studies deal with Africa: Restoring the balance: violence and culture among the Suri of southern Ethiopia (Jon Abbink), and Tolerating the intolerable: cattle raiding among the Kuria of Kenya (Suzette Heald)