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Bloodlines: From Ethnic Pride to Ethnic Terrorism, by Vamik Volkan, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998
Bloodlines is a riveting book for both the educated lay person interested in international affairs and political science, or the professional in the field. Vamik Volkan, in this new book, builds upon his earlier work, The Need to Have Enemies and Allies. He takes on the challenge of fathoming the complex reasons why one ethnic group terrorizes or attempts to exterminate the other. He writes with his characteristic depth and density of historical, political, and psychological material. Volkan's writing style is not encumbered by jargon, and is concise, scholarly, and spell-binding in its persuasive and authentic emotional impact on the reader.
Volkan discusses one of the fascinating ways he gathers data when he and his team conduct "unofficial diplomacy." "One way of diagnosing the emotional state of large groups is by visiting Hot Spots with them, observing their behavior, and listening to their remarks" (p. 201). Hot Spots are locations such as national cemeteries, memorials, museums, or monuments. These places have become invested with strong group emotions because of past or current political, military, or historical conditions. Collecting this...