Candidate:Dawn L. Rothe

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Sociology

Title: The Masquerade of Abu Ghraib: State Crime, Torture and International Law

Committee: Dr.Ronald Kramer, Chair
Dr. Susan Carlson
Dr. Barry Goetz
Dr. Don Cooney

Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
2526 Sangren Hall

Abstract: On April 28, 2004 pictures of abuse and torture of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison by U.S. military personnel shocked many Americans. In the wake of the images, it became clear that several military personnel were involved in the acts of torture and abuse. This dissertation explores the interconnections of larger structural factors, state policies, and individual actors in an attempt to understand how and why torture and abuse occurred at Abu Ghraib. It builds upon an integrated theoretical model of state and corporate crime. The dissertation revises this model so that it can better address the complexities of state crime within the international arena. The findings suggest that despite unequivocal individual responsibility, this was not simply a case of a few individual acts committed by rogue soldiers. Rather, a thorough investigation and criminological analysis of the reasons and forces behind the torture at Abu Ghraib suggest that the Executive Branch, the Pentagon, CIA, and Military Commanders bear culpability for the way in which their policies and demands for intelligence altered the traditional handling of prisoners. .

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