Children's understanding of the war in Iraq: views from Britain and Bosnia

Abstract

Sixty‐one children (aged 9–17) from the United Kingdom (31) and Bosnia (30) were interviewed about the war in Iraq. Significant differences emerged in their views of the war. The Bosnian children were more affected by the Iraq War, more aware of who is involved in it, had different views about its causes, viewed the consequences of the war with greater gravity, and expressed a greater desire to end war and have peace. Two factors which might account for these differences – recent Bosnian history and the nature of media representations of the war in the two countries – are discussed.

Keywords:

• war
• Bosnia
• children's perspectives
• United Kingdom

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Harriet Tenenbaum for assistance with references and design and to all those who participated in the study.

Notes

1. Several questions were put to the children, enquiring whether any of their parents/grandparents/teachers/friends, respectively, had said anything about the war and if so, what. In addition they were asked whether they had heard about the war on the television?

2. They were between three and five years of age when the war ended.

3. Bosnia brought a charge of genocide to the International Criminal Court against Serbia.

4. An estimated one million mines and 30,000 minefields remain in Bosnia (Save the Children Norway 2005).