ABSTRACT
The period after genocide is transformative: mass violence has ended. Yet, the shape of this post-genocide social order is fundamentally dependent on the outcome of the genocide itself. Where the perpetrator regime remains in power, genocide is denied or celebrated, and the survivors of genocide face continuing vulnerability and victimization. On the other hand, where the perpetrator regime has been removed from power, the genocidal state must be dismantled. This dismantling of the state involves extensive social transformation, as well as deciding whether and what form of transitional justice to pursue. Moreover, individual and collective memories of mass violence are reconfigured in ways that maximize individual or collective utility. Where genocide is denied, the individual perpetrator may also deny genocide; where it is celebrated, perpetrators may openly admit to their crimes; where it is condemned, they are likely to reimagine and reframe their own involvement in violence. In addition to the victims, many perpetrators also experience post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological problems. This chapter will delve into the post-genocide context, focusing particularly on perpetrator memory, trauma, and rehabilitation.
