Global Lynching and Collective Violence : Volume 1: Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

Often considered peculiarly American, lynching in fact takes place around the world. In the first book of a two-volume study, Michael J. Pfeifer collects essays that look at lynching and related forms of collective violence in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Understanding lynching as a transnational phenomenon rooted in political and cultural flux, the writers probe important issues from Indonesia—where a long history of public violence now twines with the Internet—to South Africa, with its notorious history of necklacing. Other scholars examine lynching in medieval Nepal, the epidemic of summary executions in late Qing-era China, the merging of state-sponsored and local collective violence during the Nanking Massacre, and the ways public anger and lynching in India relate to identity, autonomy, and territory. Contributors: Laurens Bakker, Shaiel Ben-Ephraim, Nandana Dutta, Weiting Guo, Or Honig, Frank Jacob, Michael J. Pfeifer, Yogesh Raj, and Nicholas Rush Smith.| Cover Title Contents Acknoweldgments Introduction / Michael J. Pfeifer 1. Lynching, Public Violence, and the Internet in Indonesia / Laurens Bakker 2. A Different Kind of War: Summary Execution and the Politics of Men of Force in Late-Qing China, 1864 - 1911 / Weiting Guo 3. Banzai! And the Others Die—Collective Violence in the Rape of Nanking / Frank Jacob 4. Making Sense of Lynching in Medieval Nepal / Yogesh Raj 5. Public Anger, Violence, and the Legacy of Decolonization in India / Nandana Dutta 6. New Situations Demand Old Magic: Necklacing in South Africa, Past and Present / Nicholas Rush Smith 7. Sitting on the Volcano: Mob Violence and Lynching in the Zionist-Palestinian Conflict / Shaiel Ben-Ephraim and Or Honig Contributors Index | "This collection makes a significant contribution to the global study of lynching, mob violence, and vigilantism. The book provides historical depth, theoretical perspective and covers a wide chronological and geographical range. It will be of great benefit to all students of collective violence."—Manfred Berg, author of Popular Justice: A History of Lynching in America "Michael Pfeifer's collection of essays on extralegal violence in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East is an important contribution to our understanding of lynching. The essays cover an impressive geographic range and a multitude of time periods. Readers with an interest in the often violent history of state formation as well as the past and present politics of identity, ethnicity, class, and gender will find this volume very rewarding."—William D. Carrigan, author of The Making of a Lynching Culture: Violence and Vigilantism in Central Texas, 1836-1916 " Global Lynching and Collective Violence is an excellent introduction to the emerging scholars and scholarship in the field of extralegal violence."— Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Book Reviews | Michael J. Pfeifer is an associate professor of history at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. He is the author of Rough Justice: Lynching and American Society, 1874-1947 and The Roots of Rough Justice , and editor of Lynching beyond Dixie: American Mob Violence outside the South . Often Considered Peculiarly American, Lynching In Fact Takes Place Around The World. In The First Book Of A Two-volume Study, Michael J. Pfeifer Collects Essays That Look At Lynching And Related Forms Of Collective Violence In Africa, Asia, And The Middle East. Understanding Lynching As A Transnational Phenomenon Rooted In Political And Cultural Flux, The Writers Probe Important Issues From Indonesia--where A Long History Of Public Violence Now Twines With The Internet--to South Africa, With Its Notorious History Of Necklacing. Other Scholars Examine Lynching In Medieval Nepal, The Epidemic Of Summary Executions In Late Qing-era China, The Merging Of State-sponsored And Local Collective Violence During The Nanking Massacre, And The Ways Public Anger And Lynching In India Relate To Identity, Autonomy, And Territory. Contributors: Laurens Bakker, Shaiel Ben-ephraim, Nandana Dutta, Weiting Guo, Or Honig, Frank Jacob, Michael J. Pfeifer, Yogesh Raj, And Nicholas Rush Smith-- This Project, The First Of Two On Global Collective Violence, Focuses On Asia, Africa And The Middle East. While The Term Lynching Signifies An American Concept, The Practice Of Lynching Is A Global Phenomenon. Edited By Michael Pfeifer, The Project Looks At The Global Practice Of Lynching And Related Varieties Of Collective Violence, Such As Rioting, Vigilantism, And Terrorism, Across World Cultures. The Included Essays Highlight Both The Universality Of Mob Violence Across Cultures And Eras And The Particularity Of Its Occurrence In Certain Cultural And Historical Contexts. With Essays Investigating Collective Violence In Indonesia, Nanking, India, South Africa, Among Other Countries, This Project Exhibits A Transnational Approach That Reconsiders Lynching Outside Of A Strictly American Context, Thereby Upending The Notion Of Lynching As An Exceptional American Experience. With A Roster Of Contributing Scholars From A Variety Of Academic Disciplines And Nations, This Volume Situates American Mob Violence As One Significant Variety Of Global Collective Violence Among Many-- Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Lynching, Public Violence, And The Internet In Indonesia / Laurens Bakker -- 2. A Different Kind Of War: Summary Execution And The Politics Of Men Of Force In Late-qing China, 1864 -- 1911 / Weiting Guo -- 3. Banzai! And The Others Die -- Collective Violence In The Rape Of Nanking / Frank Jacob -- 4. Making Sense Of Lynching In Medieval Nepal / Yogesh Raj -- 5. Public Anger, Violence, And The Legacy Of Decolonization In India / Nandana Dutta -- 6. New Situations Demand Old Magic: Necklacing In South Africa, Past And Present / Nicholas Rush Smith -- 7. Sitting On The Volcano: Mob Violence And Lynching In The Zionist-palestinian Conflict / Or Honig. Edited By Michael J. Pfeifer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This project, the first of two on global collective violence, focuses on Asia, Africa and the Middle East. While the term "lynching" signifies an American concept, the practice of lynching is a global phenomenon. Edited by Michael Pfeifer, the project looks at the global practice of lynching and related varieties of collective violence, such as rioting, vigilantism, and terrorism, across world cultures. The included essays highlight both the universality of mob violence across cultures and eras and the particularity of its occurrence in certain cultural and historical contexts. With essays investigating collective violence in Indonesia, Nanking, India, South Africa, among other countries, this project exhibits a transnational approach that reconsiders lynching outside of a strictly American context, thereby upending the notion of lynching as an exceptional American experience. With a roster of contributing scholars from a variety of academic disciplines and nations, this volume situates American mob violence as one significant variety of global collective violence among many"-- Provided by publisher In this second volume of the groundbreaking survey, Michael J. Pfeifer edits a collection of essays that illuminates lynching and other extrajudicial "rough justice" as a transnational phenomenon responding to cultural and legal issues. The volume's European-themed topics explore why three communities of medieval people turned to mob violence, and the ways exclusion from formal institutions fueled peasant rough justice in Russia. Essays on Latin America examine how lynching in the United States influenced Brazilian debates on race and informal justice, and how shifts in religious and political power drove lynching in twentieth century Mexico. Finally, scholars delve into English Canadians' use of racist and mob violence to craft identity; the Communist Party's Depression-era campaign against lynching in the United States; and the transnational links that helped form--and later emanated from--Wisconsin's notoriously violent skinhead movement in the late twentieth century Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 12 1 Lynching, Public Violence, and the Internet in Indonesia 21 2 A Different Kind of War: Summary Execution and the Politics of Men of Force in Late-Qing China, 1864–1911 45 3 Banzai! And the Others Die—Collective Violence in the Rape of Nanking 89 4 Making Sense of Lynching in Medieval Nepal 114 5 Public Anger, Violence, and the Legacy of Decolonization in India 137 6 New Situations Demand Old Magic: Necklacing in South Africa, Past and Present 167 7 Sitting on the Volcano: Mob Violence and Lynching in the Zionist-Palestinian Conflict 196 Contributors 234 Index 238 The word __lynching__ is most likely American in origin, but the practice of lynching, defined by scholars as extralegal group assault and/or murder motivated by social control concerns, can be found in many global cultures and eras. This collection of essays looks at lynching and related varieties of collective violence, such as vigilantism and rioting, across world cultures. Analyzing lynching and collective violence in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the chapters highlight both the presence of mob violence in a number of cultures and eras and the particularity of its occurrence in certain cultural and historical contexts.