Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines how Europe has given meaning to the war deaths. It provides original research regarding the political framing of war deaths in Afghanistan and the cultural and societal meanings assigned to them. The book focuses on a central line of inquiry concerns how more ''population centric" and "softer" forms of war-making, as well as the increased presence of women as agents of violence and as war fatalities, is reflected in war justificatory narratives as well as in opposition to and criticism of war activities. It addresses how national identities and gender relations are contested and revised in connection with war deaths and focus on possibilities for counter-narratives and dissent. The book concludes that gender and nationalist representations saturate European discourses of sacrifice and are fundamental to notions of legitimate military violence.