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The Fall And Rise Of Torture: A Comparative And Historical Analysis, Christopher J. Einolf

Christopher J Einolf

Torture was formally abolished by European governments in the nineteenth century, and the actual practice of torture decreased as well during that period. In the twentieth century, however, torture became much more common. None of the theories that explain the reduction of torture in the nineteenth century can explain its resurgence in the twentieth. This paper argues that the use of torture follows the same patterns in contemporary times as it has in earlier historical periods. Torture is most commonly used against people who are not full members of a society, such as slaves, foreigners, prisoners of war, and members …