This volume sheds new light upon the role of victims in the aftermath of violence. Victims are central actors in transitional justice the politics of memory and conflict resolution yet the analysis of their mobilisation and political influence in these processes has been neglected. After introducing and explaining the reasons for this limited interest the books chapters focus on a range of settings and draw on different disciplines to offer insights into the interrelated themes of victimhood victims their individual and collective identities and their role in and impact upon postconflict societies and the politics of victimhood meaning how victimhood is defined negotiated and contested both socially and politically.