Blood Lines: From Ethnic Pride to Ethnic Terrorism

In the wake of recent conflicts in Russia and the former Yugoslavia, ethnic terrorism and ethnic cleansing have become household words. Yet we are often at a loss to find solutions to such struggles. In Bloodlines, Vamik Volkan, a world-renowned psychiatrist specializing in international relations, explores ethnic violence by examining history and diplomacy through a psychoanalytic lens.Volkan leads the reader on investigative tours of battlegrounds in the Middle East, Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, the Baltic States, and the Balkans. Drawing on a variety of disciplines, he analyzes issues of identity formation, perceived versus real threats, the persistence of past traumas, and the desire for revenge. The result is a work that lays the foundation for understanding the differences between ethnic groups as well as the common ground they share.Timely, brilliant, and gripping, Bloodlines gives fascinating insights into how personal identity intertwines with nationality and why hatred of others becomes a part of our sense of self.Volkan, Vamik D. is the author of 'Blood Lines: From Ethnic Pride to Ethnic Terrorism' with ISBN 9780374114497 and ISBN 0374114498.