Reading guide

Srebrenica: responsibility and public debate

Ways to read discussion of Srebrenica while keeping documented events, institutional accountability and individual experience distinct.

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Ask what kind of claim is being made

A historical description, a moral judgment and a legal finding are not interchangeable. Identify the speaker and the evidence offered before comparing claims.

Give quotations enough space

A short quotation can omit a qualification or shift the subject of a sentence. Read the surrounding passage and distinguish the words of a witness from the commentary of an author.

Keep people visible

Avoid language that turns a community into a single actor. Acknowledge individual experiences and name uncertainty without using it to erase established events.

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