Genocide

United Nations definition:Intent to destroy in whole or in part a national,

ethnic, racial or religious group

Genocide occurs in 8 stagesStages can occur simultaneouslyEarlier ones must occur before later ones, but

earlier ones can continue over timeThings can be done at each stage to combat

genocide from occurring

Eight Stages of Genocide1. Classification2. Symbolization3. Dehumanization4. Organization5. Polarization6. Preparation7. Extermination8. Denial

Classification Societies are distinguished into “us” and

“them”By ethnicity, race, religion or nationality

The main way of preventing genocide at this early stage is to develop opportunities in a society for people to work and live together who are from different ethnic, social, national or religious backgrounds

Symbolization Give names or symbols to the classified groups Distinguish by name, dress (e.g. Yellow stars

during Holocaust) Classification and symbolization are universally

human and can be imposed on a group by themselvesNot always a problem to have a symbol representing

a group, only when it results in discrimination Can combat this by legally forbidding hate

symbols and literatureBut only successful when supported by society

Dehumanization Dehumanization is when one group treats

another group as second class citizens or worsemay be compared with animals, parasites,

insects or diseases When a group of people is thought of as

“less than human” it is easier for the group in control to murder them.

Hate propaganda in print and on hate radios is used to make the victims seem like villains.

Organization

Always organized, usually by the state, though sometimes informally or by terrorist groups

Special army units or militias are often trained and armed

Plans are made for murder

Polarization Extremists drive the groups apart. Hate groups broadcast propaganda that

reinforces prejudice and hate. Laws may forbid intermarriage or social

interaction between the groups Moderates are targeted and intimidated into

silence Moderate leaders are those best able to

prevent genocide and they are often the first to be assassinated.

Preparation

Victims are identified and separatedSegregated into confined living quarters,

concentration camps or restricted to famine-struck region and starved

Death lists are drawn up. Members of victim groups are forced to wear

or carry identifying At this stage, an international Genocide Alert

must be called

Extermination Extermination begins, and quickly becomes

the mass killing legally called "genocide.“Called "extermination" by the killers because

they do not believe their victims to be fully human

Sometimes the genocide results in revenge killings by groups against each other, creating the downward cycle of mutual genocide where the victims actually organize and commit a second genocide on the perpetrators.

Denial Denial is among the surest indicators of further

genocidal massacres. The perpetrators try to cover up the evidence

and intimidate the witnesses. Deny that they committed any crimes, and often

blame what happened on the victimsThey block investigations of the crimes, and continue

to govern until driven from power by force, when they flee into exile.

Leaders of the genocide continue to deny the crime unless they are captured and a tribunal is established to try them