Review by Choice Review
Celermajer (sociology and social policy, Univ. of Sydney) is an accomplished social scientist with a substantial record of research and writing on the subject of torture. This volume derives from an impressive empirical study of what she calls "mundane" torture in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, Celermajer's meaning is not always clear: her arguments are complex and quite abstract, and her prose is dense. The footnotes make clear that the author is thoroughly knowledgeable concerning the secondary social science and normative literature. The literature on torture is vast and diverse, and in this reviewer's opinion too much of this text is aimed at engaging with the literature rather than with the problem at hand. The most important distinction Celermajer makes is between individual agency and structural determinants as causal factors in producing state-sponsored torture. Celermajer comes down on the side of structure, as does this reviewer, but her logic is difficult to follow. One finds interesting passages here, but on the whole the book is confusing. This is a shame, since the causes of torture and plausible mechanisms for limiting its use constitute an urgent problem. Summing Up: Optional. Researchers and faculty. --Stanley N. Katz, Princeton University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
