Reporting of mass rape in the Balkans:Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose?From Bosnia to Kosovo

Abstract

The reporting of incidents of mass rape from the Bosnian conflict, particularly during the period 1992–94 evoked an upsurge of interest in the subject of rape during war. The broadsheet press was used as a medium through which significant voices aired their views and provoked debate over ‘rape in war’. This articles examines the reactions of the British and American broadsheet newspapers to rape in Bosnia and looks at the ways in which rape was represented in the press. It poses the question of why, given the experience of mass rape in Bosnia, have we witnessed similar sexual violence in Kosovo?