This book presents a compilation of presentations to the Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on “Large-Scale Victimisation due to Protracted Conflicts as a Potential Source of Terrorist Activities – Importance of Regaining Security in Post-Conflict Societies,” which was held in September 2004. The authors deal with a subject that is, unfortunately, as significant today as it was two years ago. Sadly, this continuing relevance seems to confirm the views of the German radical pacifist Kurt Tucholsky, who stated in response to the atrocities and sufferings of WWI: “But men never ever learnt from history, and they will not do so in the future. Hic Rhodus! ”

Kurt Tucholsky, 'Vorwärts -!', Glossen und Essays, Gesammelte Schriften (1907–1935), Die Weltbühne, 05.01.1926, Nr. 1, p. 1. (1926). Original quotation: »Denn noch niemals haben Menschen aus der Geschichte gelernt, und sie werden es auch in Zukunft nicht tun. Hic Rhodus!« (translated by editors).

We are afraid that the answer to this question still remains open. Yet, the spirit and the result of the workshop confirm the substantial willingness to 'learn' from the past by critically reviewing large-scale victimisation arising out of protracted conflicts in order to better understanding the necessary prerequisites for enduring peace-making in post-conflict societies and to anticipate and suggest approaches to healing victimising effects.

From the outset, the notion of an open approach to the topic of the workshop was strongly supported by Mr. Carvalho Rodrigues, the Nato Programme Director, Security-Related Civil Science & Technology. Ultimately, funding for the ARW project was generously provided by the Nato Programme. This allowed the workshop to be organised at the University of Zagreb together with the Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, Freiburg, i.Br., Germany.

The contributions contained in the book cover a wide variety of approaches to large-scale victimisation in armed conflicts and post-conflict societies from different academic and applied disciplines. However, one of the interesting discoveries at the workshop was how closely related all these different perspectives were and that the future discourse on large-scale victimisation should overcome the divide between the various concepts and approaches in order to provide more holistic, and therefore more effective, proposals.

It is now up to the academic community, the field of applied human rights work, international criminal justice and the interested public at large, to digest and reflect on the observations made by the contributions presented in this book, particularly insofar as they identify possible solutions and the need for further research on issues related to large-scale victimisation.

In any case, addressing these issues appears essential in enhancing learning in the field of large-scale victimisation and preventing further massive suffering.

The Editors, September 2006