New Book: Stephanie Carvin, Prisoners of America's Wars (Columbia University Press & Hurst, 2010)

 

 

Since the days of the Revolutionary War, the way in which America has taken and treated its prisoners reveals a lot about its democratic principles. How other countries have treated American prisoners also says much about the standing of the United States in the world. Throughout U.S. history, prisoners of war have functioned as symbols of outrage and patriotism, as figures of pity, power, triumph, and fealty, ultimately illustrating the human impact of war.

Retelling the story of America through its prisoners and involvement in international law, Stephanie Carvin explores America's inherent difficulty of being both exceptional and secure. While American diplomats negotiate a treaty at The Hague, for example, American soldiers suppress a bloody insurrection, throwing themselves into a conflict in which no rules apply. Carvin's argument is not that the relationship among America, its prisoners, and international law is founded entirely on exceptional culture and carnage. Rather, she identifies a blend of ideology, national imperative, and historical inevitability that has challenged American presidents from Washington to Obama. Her research shows that, despite the claim that America faces a unique and unprecedented battle in its 'war on terror,' the roots of this conflict lie in the history of those who have been captured in war. By contextualizing these stories within America's larger historical narrative, Carvin achieves a richer understanding of modern warfare.

'A well-written and thoroghly researched work that makes a valuable contribution to debate on the US military and the development of the politics of the laws of war in relation to the treatment of prisoners of war and prisoners in war.' -- Dr. Ruth Blakeley, University of Kent.

'The laws of war have been much discussed, both criticized and revered but also little understood& mdash;especially in relation to politics. Stephanie Carvin deepens our understanding of this vexing topic, especially concerning prisoners of war in irregular armed conflict. She takes the controversial policies of the Bush administration after 9/11 and puts them in historical perspective, emphasizing the political values that drive legal interpretation. The result is a readable and intriguing analysis of national ideology, policymaking, and international law.' -- David P. Forsythe, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, author of The Humanitarians: The International Committee of the Red Cross

US link

UK link