Just Violence - (Stanford Studies in Human Rights) by Rachel Wahl (Paperback)

About the Book

This book examines the beliefs of law enforcement officers who support the use of torture and the implications of these beliefs for officers' responses to human rights activism and education.

Book Synopsis

This book examines the beliefs of law enforcement officers who support the use of torture and the implications of these beliefs for officers' responses to human rights activism and education.

Review Quotes

"In this compelling book, Rachel Wahl shows how Indian police with human rights training justify torture as a means to protect the rights of victims and the community. Just Violence will resonate widely with academics and practitioners who want to better understand how local cultures vernacularize ideas about human rights."--Jack Snyder "Columbia University"

"Why does human rights training fail to diminish the use of torture by police? Rachel Wahl's fascinating book argues that police torture is not simply the product of indifference or the legacy of colonial rule but also the moral compass of police themselves as they endeavor to produce security, justice, and order. Just Violence offers an alternative explanation of police violence and the misfit between local conceptions of justice and the general principles of the human rights system. This provocative book offers new insights into human rights education and the enduring tensions between rights and security."--Sally Engle Merry "New York University"

About the Author

Rachel Wahl is Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy at the University of Virginia.