Göran Aijmer & Jon Abbink (eds.): Meanings of Violence: A Cross Cultural Perspective.

Anmeldes af Birgitte Refslund Sørensen &nbsp

„Den gode samfundsborger er buddhist!“: Medborgerskabsforståelser i singalesiske skoler, Sri Lanka

Birgitte Refslund Sørensen: “The Good Citizen is a Buddhist!” Understandings of Citizenship in Singhalese Schools, Sri Lanka Schoolchildren in Sinhalese schools learn to perceive themselves and the surrounding world through a Buddhist lens. This article, which draws on essays written by schoolchildren (grades 6-12) from three different schools, demonstrates how the children apply Buddhist values in developing a social imaginary of the good citizen, and how they apply this understanding in their assessments of transformations in society. I argue that even when their Buddhist views stress values like discipline, moral conduct, social responsibility and compassion that promise to foster a peaceful society, the children’s strong commitment to Buddhism as a basis for being a good citizen could also be a source of conflict. This is so, because Buddhism enjoys a privileged position in the constitution of Sri Lanka, where Buddhist Sinhalese are the majority, and because it has been politicised and serves as the foundation of a strong Sinhalese ethno-nationalism. So even though none of the Sinhalese schoolchildren would speak negatively of other groups, I argue that the strong linkage they make between Buddhism and the good Srilankan citizen is nevertheless expressive of a hegemonic discourse, which defines cultural citizenship and which marginalises others in Sri Lanka today. Keywords: Buddhism, conflict, discipline, ethnicity, modernization, moral community.

Hjemkomstparader for danske soldater - ceremoniel fejring af krigeren og den krigsførende nation

Within the last two decades Denmark has increasingly manifested itself as a fighting nation. Consequently, Denmark has become the home of a growing population of war veterans, and with inspiration from Britain and the US, ‘traditions’ are now invented to show Danish veterans respect and honor. In this article, we explore one of these new ‘traditions’: homecoming parades. We study the case of the homecoming parade for DANCON ISAF 10 in Copenhagen, February 2011. We approach the parade as a complex and ambiguous ritual that does not only mark the return of veterans to Denmark, but which also brings the distant war in Afghanistan closer to home. We show how the parade celebrates the veterans, pays thanks to their relatives, manifests the fighting nation, and inspires comical as well as critical voices. We argue that the parade domesticates the veterans, socialises the Danish society, and normalises Denmark at war

Introduktion: Skolens børn og samfundets borgere

Intet resum

An investigation into the role of alcohol in self-harm in rural Sri Lanka: a protocol for a multimethod, qualitative study

INTRODUCTION: Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicide and self-harm rates in the world and although alcohol has been found to be a risk factor for self-harm in Sri Lanka, we know little about the connection between the two. This paper comprises a protocol for a qualitative study investigating alcohol's role in self-harm in rural Sri Lanka at three levels: the individual, community and policy level. The analysis will bring new understanding of the link between alcohol and self-harm in Sri Lanka, drawing on structural, cultural and social concepts. It will equip researchers, health systems and policy makers with vital information for developing strategies to address alcohol-related problems as they relate to self-harm. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: To capture the complexity of the link between alcohol and self-harm in the Anuradhapura district in the North Central Province in Sri Lanka, qualitative methods will be utilised. Specifically, the data will consist of serial narrative life-story interviews with up to 20 individuals who have non-fatally self-harmed and where alcohol directly or indirectly was involved in the incidence as well as with their significant others; observations in communities and families; six focus group discussions with community members; and key-informant interviews with 15–25 stakeholders who have a stake in alcohol distribution, marketing, policies, prevention and treatment as they relate to self-harm. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received ethical approval from the Ethical Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. A sensitive data collection technique will be used and ethical issues will be considered throughout the study. RESULTS: The results will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed articles in collaboration with Sri Lankan and other international research partners

A qualitative exploration of rural and semi-urban Sri Lankan men’s alcohol consumption

Harmful alcohol drinking can have health and socio-economic consequences. However, consumption is also associated with pleasure and symbolic meanings. Alcohol intake is increasing in Sri Lanka. In-depth explorations of alcohol patterns are needed to inform interventions and policies. Qualitative data were collected over 11 months in 2014 and 2015 in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. Ten focus group discussions were conducted in gender, age and geographically (rural and semi-urban) segregated groups. Observations were conducted at alcohol selling establishments and social gatherings. Bourdieu’s concepts practice, habitus, symbolic capital and distinction were used for the analysis. Three groups of consumers emerged: moderate consumers, abstainers and heavy drinkers. They each exercised distinctions through social codes of conduct within and towards other groups of consumers. Symbolic capital was expressed through choice of alcohol. Norms of ‘acceptable consumption’ were defined as ‘moderate drinking’ in covert, social and contained settings. Public, uncontrolled and solitary consumption violated norms of appropriate consumption. Young consumers communicated a ‘modern lifestyle’ through their consumption. This study found that alcohol practices mirrored social norms in this Sri Lankan setting. Alcohol and drug prevention and intervention efforts should take this into account