Brainwashing of prisoners of war

Nature

The war crime of POW brainwashing has come to be an increasing possibility in ideological conflicts.

Background

During the Second World War, prisoners were subjected to propaganda and a very few were subverted. The stress of confinement with its hardships and privations, and the fear of death, were the influencing factors. Concerted psychological behaviour and thought modification techniques applied to POWs were not evident as a feature of modern conflict until the Korean War.

Incidence

Brainwashing of prisoners of war has been reported in numerous conflicts across the globe, affecting thousands of individuals held in captivity. Incidents have spanned from the Korean and Vietnam Wars to more recent hostilities, with documented cases in Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. The practice often involves systematic psychological manipulation, forced confessions, and attempts to alter prisoners’ beliefs or loyalty, raising significant humanitarian and legal concerns.
In 2022, reports emerged from the Russia-Ukraine conflict alleging that Ukrainian prisoners of war were subjected to psychological coercion and indoctrination during captivity in Russian-controlled detention facilities, according to investigations by Human Rights Watch.

Claim

The brainwashing of prisoners of war is a grave and urgent problem that demands global attention. Manipulating vulnerable captives to alter their beliefs and loyalty is a gross violation of human rights and international law. Such psychological abuse inflicts lasting trauma, undermines justice, and erodes the moral fabric of warfare. The international community must condemn and act decisively against these inhumane practices to protect the dignity and mental well-being of all prisoners.

Counter-claim

The notion that brainwashing of prisoners of war is a significant problem is vastly overstated. Modern psychological research shows that so-called "brainwashing" is largely ineffective and rare. Most prisoners remain loyal to their countries, and international oversight makes such practices nearly impossible. Focusing on this outdated concept distracts from real issues facing prisoners of war, such as physical abuse and lack of basic rights, which deserve far more attention and action.