Reflections on the Boundaries of Perpetrator Studies: Looking at Violence, Politics, and Harm

26 and 27 June 2024, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

Organizers:

Dr Margaux Coquet, Université de Luxembourg

Dr Marie-Sophie Devresse, Université de Louvain

Prof. Damien Scalia, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Dr Ellen Van Damme, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Research in the field of Perpetrator Studies is navigating between the study of “perpetration”, and the criticism of the very label of “perpetrator” as a limited and ambiguous category. Caught between what might be considered as antagonistic expectations (i.e., the parallel exploitation and problematization of their object of study), researchers in the field of Perpetrator Studies face epistemological challenges that can be common or divergent across disciplines, yet end up having consequences on the framing of the global social issues they tackle.

In this context, this conference explored theoretical and methodological questions, including the ethical and moral implications of the researcher’s position regarding the analysis of “perpetrators” and “perpetration”; how such positions vary according to disciplinary backgrounds, and the difficulties that it entails in terms of collaboration in research. We will focus on reflecting on the boundaries of perpetrator studies, discuss topics that are not often thought of in the field of Perpetrator Studies, and reflect on new directions for the field.