Who coined the term “genocide” and when?
Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer, in 1944. He defined it as a coordinated plan aiming at the destruction of national groups’ foundations, with the goal of annihilating the groups themselves.
How did Jack Nusan (1982) define genocide?
As the deliberate destruction, in whole or in part, by a government or its agents, of a minority group (racial, sexual, religious, tribal, political). It includes mass murder, starvation, forced deportation, and subjugation.
What is the simplified definition of genocide?
The deliberate and systematic destruction of a particular ethnic, racial, religious, or national group.
What document provides the legal framework for genocide?
The 1948 UN Genocide Convention (Articles I–III), supported by UN Resolution 96(I).
What acts are defined as genocide under the UN Convention?
Killing members of the group
Causing serious bodily or mental harm
Inflicting destructive living conditions
Preventing births
Forcibly transferring children
What does Johan Galtung’s Structural Violence theory say about genocide?
It views the state as the primary actor, with genocide occurring during war or revolutionary change, driven by elite ideologies and state capacity.
How does the sociological/social control perspective explain genocide?
As a form of deviance handling, where elites use extreme violence to control populations seen as threats.
What do social psychological perspectives emphasize?
Conformity, obedience to authority, and dehumanization, which enable ordinary individuals to participate in or tolerate killings.
What is the ideological/utopian theory of genocide?
Elites pursue a utopian vision by eliminating groups seen as obstacles (e.g., Jews as “virus,” Armenians as “microbes”).
How does modernization/state-building theory explain genocide?
It links genocide to modern nation-building, colonialism, and exclusionary state processes, not ancient traditions.
What are Stanton’s 10 stages of genocide?
Classification – “us vs. them” divisions
Symbolization – visible markers (badges, armbands, ID cards)
Discrimination – denial of rights/citizenship
Dehumanization – victims depicted as vermin/cockroaches
Organization – militias trained (Interahamwe, Janjaweed)
Polarization – propaganda, elimination of moderates
Preparation – propaganda frames violence as self-defense
Persecution – victims identified, segregated, property seized
Extermination – mass killings (e.g., Rwanda: 800,000 in 100 days)
Denial – destruction of evidence, intimidation of witnesses
How did the Holocaust follow Stanton’s stages?
Classification: Aryans vs. Jews
Symbolization: Yellow Star of David
Discrimination: Nuremberg Laws stripped citizenship
Dehumanization: Propaganda depicted Jews as parasites
Organization: SS, Gestapo, ghettos, camps
Polarization: Kristallnacht, bans on intermarriage
Preparation: Ghettos, deportations, “Final Solution”
Persecution: Property confiscation, deportations
Extermination: Industrialized murder (6 million Jews)
Denial: Nazis destroyed evidence, Holocaust denial persists
What is ethnic cleansing?
A deliberate attempt to remove an ethnic group from a geographic area through forced displacement, violence, and intimidation, often destroying cultural symbols.
How does ethnic cleansing differ from genocide?
Genocide = destruction of a group.
Ethnic cleansing = removal to create homogeneous territory (sometimes overlapping with genocide).
What are the main international responses to genocide?
Legal conventions (Genocide Convention, Geneva Conventions)
International tribunals (ICTR, ICTY, ICC)
Peacekeeping missions (Rwanda, Bosnia)
Military interventions (NATO in Kosovo)
Responsibility to Protect (R2P, 2005)
Sanctions and diplomacy
Humanitarian aid (ICRC, MSF, UNHCR)
Documentation and awareness (NGOs, media)
What are common failures of international responses?
Political will, sovereignty concerns, inconsistent enforcement, slow justice, selective interventions (e.g., NATO in Kosovo but not Rwanda).
What are three major genocides in the 21st century?
Darfur, Sudan (2003–2010): ~300,000 deaths, ICC indictment of Omar al-Bashir.
Rohingya, Myanmar (2016–present): 24,000 killed, 740,000 displaced.
Yazidi, Iraq & Syria (2014–2017): ~5,000 killed by ISIS.
Why are genocide and ethnic cleansing still global security concerns?
They destabilize regions, cause mass displacement, fuel terrorism, and challenge international law and human rights enforcement.
How do they connect to war and terrorism?
They often occur during wars, civil conflicts, or extremist campaigns, and can fuel cycles of violence and radicalization.
How do survivors ensure justice?
Through tribunals, ICC prosecutions, truth commissions, reparations, and advocacy for recognition.
Can genocide be predicted and prevented?
Yes, by monitoring early warning signs (Stanton’s stages), strengthening international law, and ensuring political will for intervention.
Global Security Concerns
Why do genocide and ethnic cleansing remain global security concerns? They cause mass deaths and displacement, destabilize regions, fuel refugee crises, radicalization, and cycles of violence, and undermine international law and human rights.
Connection to War and Terrorism
How do genocide and ethnic cleansing connect to war? They often occur during wars or civil conflicts, used as strategies to gain territory or eliminate groups.
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Week 119
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Week 214
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Thinkers In Classic Realsim And Liberalism11
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Key Thunkers6
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Week 427
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Week 639
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Week 745
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Week 336
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Week 831
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Week 932
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Week 12 #115
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Week 1118
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Critical Theories56
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Week 3 Critical Theories32
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Peaceepeaking29
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Week 1316
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Revision57
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Key Thinkers0
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Events0
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Events29
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events0
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Revision 217
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R37
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R420
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Ingos32
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R518
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Sepcialised Un Agencies20
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Terroriosm23
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Genocide30
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Hamas21
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Hezbollah23
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Threats to global security22
