From the Inside Flap
The War Hotel is an ambitious, fascinating exploration of the psychology of conflict, from American street gangs to bloodshed in the Balkans. With Arlene Audergon as guide, the reader takes an enlightening journey to the hidden underside of modern war, and finds a ray of hope that humankind can, indeed, ‘break free from the nightmare'. (Charles J. Hanley, Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press special correspondent, with 30 years of experience covering war zones and co-author of The Bridge at No Gun Ri; A Hidden Nightmare from the Korean War.)
From her rich personal experience working in conflict areas, Arlene Audergon not only describes the inner and outer nature of war, but the personal and community developments we must make to find relief, resolution and a wise center in the midst of it all. (Dr. Arnold Mindell, international conflict facilitator, author of The Deep Democracy of Open Forums and Sitting in the Fire)
This absorbing, inspiring work combines the experience of working in war torn circumstances, cultural sensitivity and Process Work theory. The ‘War Hotel’ reveals the hidden terror of violent conflict, and offers a revitalizing perspective - that spoke directly to my experience and work with the processes creating so much violence here in DC, and for these turbulent times. (John L. Johnson, Ed.D Professor Emeritus, University of the District of Columbia)
With its passion, wisdom and care, The War Hotel means making sense of my own experience of war. Yes, we lived through it, suffered and most of us felt it was just ‘happening to us’. Reading this book puts in a frame the confusing and painful experiences in a way we can actually look at it and learn from it – and feel a part of the great jigsaw puzzle of human beings on earth. (Tanja Radocaj, Zagreb, Head of UNICEF Office, Croatia)
From the Back Cover
Human Nature is the fuel of violent conflict. The War Hotel looks at how we get aroused and how we get silenced into violent conflict. We are pulled apart in the name of justice and loyalty. Past trauma is triggered into a replay. Out of love and longing to step beyond the ordinary world, we sacrifice ourselves and others.
Dehumanizing the enemy, disinformation, torture, stirring fear in order to crack down - these terror tactics, too, are based in psychology. The manipulation of psychological dynamics to create violent conflict is distressing. But, if our emotions and behaviour are the fuel, then our awareness can impact world events. There is something truly hopeful here. Awareness makes a difference.
Examples draw particularly from the author's work in the Balkans. Other examples include Nazi Germany, Rwanda, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Communism and its fall in Europe, South Africa, the treatment of Native Americans and African Americans in the USA, Vietnam and the 'war on terror'.
