Genocide

World History 2020

Background

• Raphael Lemkin

• A lawyer of Polish-Jewish descent

• Credited with coining the term, genocide (1943 or 1944)

• Word comes from genos (Greek for Family, tribe, or race) and cide (Latin for killing)

• Helped to establish the Genocide Convention within the United Nations (1948)

• "To Prevent and Punish the Crime of Genocide"

Definition

• "a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of

essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of

annihilating the groups themselves." -Lemkin

• "the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a

particular ethnic group or nation." -Dictionary Definition

What is a Genocide?

• There were originally Eight Stages of Genocide, later two more are added

(the ones in blue) to make it 10 Stages

• Classification, Symbolization

• Discrimination, Dehumanization

• Organization, Polarization

• Preparation, Persecution

• Extermination, Denial

Stage 1: Classification

• People are divided into "Us vs. Them"

• Distinguish by nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion.

• Bipolar societies (Ethnically Divided), most likely to have genocide because they lack

mixed categories within their society

Stage 2: Symbolization

• Names/Symbols to the classifications: “Jew”, “German”, “Hutu”, “Tutsi”.

• Languages

• Types of dress

• Group uniforms: Nazi Swastika armbands

• Colors and religious symbols:

• Ex: Yellow star for Jews

Stage 3: Discrimination

• "A dominant group uses law, custom, and political power to deny the

rights of other groups."

• Denial of citizenship, voting, and reduced civil rights

• Goal: the dominant group wants to deprive and/or strip the rights of

the less powerful groups to monopolize the power within the given society

• Examples: The Nuremberg Laws in Germany 1935, Discrimination of African Americans and Native

Americas in the US prior to the Civil War Amendments/Civil Rights Movement

Stage 4: Dehumanization

• One group denies the humanity of another group and makes the

victim group seem subhuman.

• Dehumanization overcomes the normal human revulsion against murder

• Less powerful group(s) likened to animals, vermin, insects, and/or diseases

• Propaganda is used to spread this hatred of a particular group(s)

Examples of Dehumanization Propaganda

• Kangura Newspaper, Rwanda: “The

Solution for Tutsi Cockroaches” (Top)

• Der Stürmer Nazi Newspaper: “The

Blood Flows; The Jew Grins" (Bottom)

Stage 5: Organization

• Genocide is a group crime, so it must be organized.

• The state usually organizes, arms & financially supports the groups that

conduct the genocidal massacres

• Plans are made by elites for a “final solution” of genocidal killings.

Stage 6: Polarization

• Extremists drive the groups apart

• Hate groups broadcast and print polarizing propaganda

• Laws are passed that forbid intermarriage or social interaction

• Attacks blamed on targeted groups – something bad happens, must be

“their” fault

Stage 7: Preparation

• Dominant group leaders plan the “Final Solution”

• Use terms to "cover up" their intentions

• "Ethnic Cleansing", "Purification", or "Counter-Terrorism"

• Build up and train their army or militia groups

• Leaders stoke fear of the "other group(s)" further cementing the "Us vs. Them"

• Use this to claim "self-defense"

Stage 8: Persecution

• "Victims are identified and separated out because of their national, ethnic, racial or religious identity. The victim group’s most basic human rights are systematically violated..."

• Death lists are created

• Victim groups are essentially rounded up and deported to one of the following: Ghettos, Concentration Camps, and/or Famine struck areas and starved

• Deprived of basics necessities (food, water, etc.)

• Separated from family members

Stage 9: Extermination

• Extermination begins, and becomes

the mass killing legally called

"genocide."

• Most genocide is committed by

governments.

Einsatzgruppen: Nazi Killing

Squads

Stage 10: Denial

• Denial is always found in genocide, both during it and after it

• Denial extends the crime of genocide to future generations of the

victims. It is a continuation of the intent to destroy the group

• The tactics of denial are predictable.

• Try to cover up any evidence

• Intimidate witnesses; Block investigations

• Deny what happened; blame the victims