Dubravka Zarkov, The Body Of War: Media, Ethnicity, And Gender In The Break-up Of Yugoslavia

摘要

The interweaving of nationalist and gendered discourses and practices is a key ingredient of modern wars, and the Yugoslav wars of 1991—5 were no exception. Due to their reproductive capacities, female bodies frequently featured as symbols and markers of the nation, and served both as objects of worship and protection and as targets of violent attacks. From the very start of the conflicts, nationalist appropriations of women's bodies were attracting considerable scholarly attention, both in the region and internationally, and gave rise to several debates and publications. Faced with Dubravka Zarkov's book, a reader may therefore wonder whether another publication on the matter can really bring anything new to the debate. But a cursory glance at the introduction, however, should be enough to dispel any reservations of this kind.