Mourning for Justice

This book builds on the developing discipline of the anthropology of enforced disappearance, not only as a tragic result of political oppression, but as a phenomenon which transforms the social and cultural fabric of victimized communities. It considers the emotional and symbolic vacuum left among the family members and communities of missing persons, including the ongoing unresolved psychological effects of grief and loss. Taking the specific example of the Balochistan region of Pakistan through the medium of first-hand interviews and data with families and eye witnesses, Abdul Raheem shows that enforced disappearance not only devastates the individuals who are directly victimized, but also has a broader socio-political outcome wherein the disappeared and their families become symbolic figures in larger movements for justice, self-determination, and resistance. This dual effect is at the heart of social and political changes in Balochistan. Affected families live a state of perpetual grief, but, over time, this mourning transforms into political resilience and a demand for justice, truth, and accountability.

This book will be of interest to students and researchers of South Asian politics, human rights, and the anthropology of violence, encompassing the disciplines of anthropology, political science, sociology, and peace and conflict studies.