Reappraising Legal, Political and Ethical Questions Concerning the Herero and Nama Genocide

Julia Böcker, is a peace educator and mediator. She studied history and international law (MA) and peace & security studies (MPS). After chapters in Switzerland, Israel and the USA, she works for the Center of Ethical Education in the Armed Forces in Hamburg, Germany. Dealing with the past is a main focus of her research interest.

Preface


Acknowledgements


List of Maps


1 Introduction

 1 Starting Position: Diagnosing the Problem


 2 Enquiry/Key Questions, Aims, Research Hypotheses


 3 Methodical Approach and Structure of This Paper


 4 Sources and Current State of Literature and Research


 5 Political and Scientific Relevance of This Paper




2 Historical Background Genocide in the Colony

 1 Colonial Rule in German South West Africa


 2 Eroding the Limits of Violence in War (1904 to 1908)


 3 Concentration Camps and Forced Labour


 4 Consequences in the Resent




3 On Legal Reappraisal Category Genocide

 1 A Crime against Human Rights?


 2 Answers Derived from Genocide Research


 3 Judicial Reappraisal of the Colonial Injustice




4 Approaches of Political Reappraisal

 1 Forgetting, Suppressing, Avoiding


 2 Development Aid as Compensation?


 3 The ‘G-Word’ and Breaking Taboos


 4 Politicising Colonial Injustice


 5 German-Namibian Talks




5 An Ethical and Moral Approach The Way of Apology

 1 Requirements of a Political Apology


 2 2004 Memorial Ceremony on the Waterberg – ‘Forgive Us Our Trespasses’


 3 Non-political Apologies


 4 Impetus from Political Actors


 5 Prospects of a Plea for Forgiveness




Conclusion

 1 Summary


 2 Policy Recommendation


 3 Other Means of Reappraisal


 4 Outlook




Afterword


Appendix


Sources and Literature