The Empire of Trauma: An Inquiry into the Condition of Victimhood

摘要: The Empire of Trauma: An Inquiry into the Condition Victimhood makes a signal contribution to genre “the history present.” It uses apparently unremarkable fact that victims disasters as diverse genocide, earthquakes, and industrial accidents are all brought together within same framework understanding centered on diagnostic category trauma. asks, What does it mean we take concept trauma given in these circumstances? first part book provides systematic examination archives psychology psychiatry delineate double genealogy posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This is followed by an three specific cases authors see emblematic contemporary politics These emergency psychiatric counseling for accident Toulouse September 2001, boom humanitarian France since 1980s, and, use PTSD evaluating certifying truth claims asylum seekers France. detail finesse with which theory data woven each case this compelling. For reasons space, though, I will content myself discussing two major claim concerns emergence post-Vietnam period North America. Didier Fassin Richard Rechtman argue that, faced media revelations brutalities committed American troops civilians Vietnam, U.S. government was confronted impossible choice—either punish its own soldiers crimes chain responsibility hard disentangle or accept culpability “crimes.” diagnosis Vietnam veterans came solution sorts. took any moral judgment out clinical encounter, main premise ordinary people when put extraordinary circumstances were capable committing atrocities they could be later traumatized. Thus became possible condemn event without condemning perpetrators. also allowed set place policies rehabilitation veterans. Outside anger at still evident public condemnation their portrayals films other brutal killers rather than heroes. That War continues treated spectral presence questions warfare United States shows how issues haunt political culture country. second processes person-