Ultranationalism: A Cause of GenocideChapter 7: How can ultranationalism lead to crimes

against humanity?

What is the difference?

Genocide Ethnic Cleansing

Massacre Racism

Crimes Against Humanity

Us vs Them

War Crimes

Nanjing Massacre, 1937Japanese forces press into China, leading to clashes near Beijing and to the capture of Shanghai

Tokyo then orders a full-scale attack on the city of Nanjing, where Japanese soldiers loot and kill civilians in a violent rampage

Sometimes called the “rape of Nanjing”

Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1945

• When in late July 1945 the Japanese cabinet rejected the Potsdam Declaration, a renewed Allied demand that Japan surrender unconditionally or face utter destruction, the United States decided to use its new atomic weapons.

• On August 6 the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Two days later the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, and on August 9 the United States dropped a second bomb on the city of Nagasaki.

• Faced with such an utterly hopeless situation, the Japanese leadership finally agreed to surrender on August 14 (August 15 in Japan). Japanese emperor Hirohito, speaking for the first time on the radio, broadcast the news to the nation.

Crime?Was the “Rape of Nanjing” a crime?

Were the dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki crimes?

Terrible things occur during war. Why do we label such things as crimes?

What are some criteria for what makes an action in war a crime?

Naming the Crime

• Genocide: refers to the killing of members of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

• Crimes against humanity: refers to widespread or systematic attacks against a civilian population

• War Crimes: willful killing torture, or inhuman treatment; willfully causing great suffering.

Consequences of Ultranationalism

Bringing criminals to JUSTICE!

Ie. International Criminal Court, est. 1998/2002

60 countries needed to support (China & USA do not recognize it; fear of political leaders being targeted, fear of enemy officials taking over the courts etc.)

UN funded, but operates independently

International Criminal Tribunal for _______.

The Reckoning: http://www.pbs.org/pov/reckoning/

How has Ultranationalism Caused Crimes Against Humanity?

Ultranationalist beliefs = fertile ground for growth of racism and prejudice, which can lead to crimes against humanity

Ie. Laws supporting ultranationalism = committing crimes against humanity shows people’s loyalty to their nation

Peer pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOYLCy5PVgM

The 8 Stages of Genocide:1. Classification

2.Symbolism

3.Dehumanization

4.Organization

5.Polarization

6.Preparation

7.Extermination

8.Denial

Rwanda example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IakTrPPMpzQ

Gregory Stanton, President, Genocide Watch: http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/8stagesofgenocide.html

Genocides of the 20th Century

• Bosnia- Herzegovina (1992-1995) – 200,000 deaths • Rwanda (1994) – 800,000 deaths • Khmer Rouge in Cambodia (1975-1979) – 2,000,000

deaths • Nazi Holocaust (1938-1945) – 6,000,000 deaths • Rape of Nanking (1937-1938) – 300,000 deaths • Stalin’s Holodomor (1932-1933) – 7,000,000 deaths • Armenians in Turkey (1915-1918) – 1,500,000 deaths

Questions to be Answered:1. Who? Describe the victims.  Describe the perpetrators. 2. What? What main factors led to the abuses? 3. What ultranationalist policies were used- officially or unofficially? 4. What was the ultranationalist group trying to achieve by

committing genocide?  5. Where? Where did the event occur? 6. When? When did the event take place and when did the world

react to the event? 7. Why? Why did one group resort to policies of genocide?

• Why was it given its name? 8. How? How did the genocide continue without other nations

preventing it or stopping it?