Risk factors/Definition
What was one of the two terms that were rejected from the UN’s definition of genocide?
Cultural genocide, genocide against political groups
What does symbolization mean?
Names or symbols are given to the classification, intended to enforce us vs them mentality.
What is classification?
People are distinguished into “us” and “them” based on some defining characteristic.
1994
What are the three risk factors for genocide?
Ideology, history of human rights violations, instability
What is organization (in the context of a genocide)?
Special units or militias are formed, trained, and armed and plans are made for Genocidal killings.
What two things are used to make an ethical judgement?
Moral principles and historical context.
Why is genocide difficult to prove?
Genocide requires intent; there must be proven intent to physically destroy a group and victims must be deliberately targeted.
What is one "act" of genocide according to the UN, aside from killing members of a group?
Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
What is the difference between polarization and dehumanization?
Dehumanization reduces a group to less than human; polarization drives groups apart and makes a targeted group seem like the enemy.
What is an example of a risk factor that made the Rwandan genocide more likely to occur?
Ideology based on us versus them, prior colonial history with Belgium, past acts of violence without repercussions... many correct answers!
If a country has an economic crisis, resulting in widespread unemployment and poverty, what kind of risk factor would that be?
Instability.
Why is instability a risk factor?
It is a situation where leaders/citizens may be more willing to consider violence to protect themselves.
Aside from denying that the genocide took place, what is one other form of denial?
Perpetrators of genocide dig up the mass graves, burn the bodies, try to cover up the evidence and intimidate the witnesses. Block investigations. Diminish/reduce the consequences of a genocide.
What is one way to prevent the 10th stage of genocide?
Punishment by an international tribunal or national courts to prevent recurrence.
Education and information about the genocide should be spread globally.
What stage of genocide involves using euphemisms to hide intentions to kill a group of people (ex purification, ethnic cleansing etc)
Preparation.