The Troublesome Dead

The Troublesome Dead explores the phenomenon of socially ‘problematic’ dead bodies and their treatment as objects of controversy. While most societies have designed standard procedures to deal with dead bodies and natural or suspicious death, this volume addresses the material, spiritual and political treatment of dead bodies that are considered less socially or politically relevant.

This book broadens the traditional approach to bodies and forensics by discussing the victims of both mass crimes or natural disasters, and the perceivably less exceptional deaths such as of migrants, criminal suspects or inmates, or those suffering from extreme poverty. Owing to these bodies being considered as socially or politically unimportant, or because state institutions themselves share responsibility in their death, they are not afforded the usual care reserved for human remains. Yet, in many instances, these remains become powerful sites of contestation. They may become criminal evidence, or testify to past violence and injustice, moving a series of governmental and non-governmental actors into action including international or local Human Rights advocates, religious activists and clergymen, international courts, UN agencies. As such, the volume provides the reader with an innovative analysis of major political conflicts and controversial issues throughout the world.

It represents an outstanding contribution to the field of death studies, but also to the analysis of peace building operations, human rights, and issues of contemporary violence and its challenges. It will therefore appeal to both scholars and students of death studies, forensic and political anthropology, sociology of death, thanatology, social work, theology, criminology, and peace studies.