Transcript The 8 Stages of Genocide

The 8 Stages of Genocide
Stage 1. Classification
• Cultures have categories that distinguish “us
and them” by
– Ethnicity
– Race
– Religion
• Ex. German or Jew, Hutu or Tutsi
Classification cont.
• Bipolar societies lacking mixed categories are
most likely to have genocide
– Ex. Rwanda
Classification Prevention
• Develop universalistic institutions
transcending ethnic or racial divisions
– Actively promote
• Tolerance
• Understanding
• Promote classifications that transcend
divisions
Stage 2. Symbolism
• Giving names or symbols to classifications
– Ex. Jews, Gypsies
• Names and symbols distinguish by colors or
clothing
– Does not directly result in genocide unless taken to
next level
• When combined with hatred
– Symbols forced upon unwilling members
of pariah groups
• Ex. Yellow star for Jews under Nazi rule
Symbolism Prevention
• Hate symbols and speech can be legally forbidden
– Ex. Swastikas
• Group markings can be outlawed
– Ex. Gang clothing, Tribal scarring
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• Legal limitations will fail if unsupported by
popular culture enforcement
Stage 3. Dehumanization
• One group denying the humanity of another
group
– Ex. “Cockroaches”
• Overcomes normal human revulsion against
murder
• Hate propaganda in media used to vilify the
victim group
Dehumanization Prevention
• Incitement to genocide should not be
confused with protected speech
– Genocidal societies lack constitutional protection
for countervailing speech
• Should be treated differently than democracies
• Local and international leaders condemn use
of hate speech and make it culturally
unacceptable
Dehumanization Prevention cont.
• Leaders who incite genocide should be
banned from international travel and have
foreign finances frozen
• Hate radio and propaganda should be banned
• Hate crimes and atrocities should be punished
Stage 4. Organization
• Genocide always organized by the state using
militias
– Provides deniability of state responsibility
• Ex. Janjaweed in Darfur
• Organization
– Informally
• Ex. Hindu mobs led by local RSS militants
– Decentralized
• Terrorist groups
Organization cont.
• Special army units or militants trained and
armed
• Genocidal killing plans made
Organization Prevention
• Membership in militias should be outlawed
• Leaders should be denied international visas
• U.N. should impose arms embargoes on
governments and countries involved in
genocide
• Create commissions to investigate violations
– Ex. Post-genocidal sanctions in Rwanda
Stage 5. Polarization
• Extremists drive groups apart
• Hate groups broadcasting polarizing propaganda
• Laws created
– Ex. Forbidding intermarriage, forbidding social
interaction
• Extremists target moderates
– Intimidate and silence centers
• Moderates from groups are most able to stop
genocide
– First to be arrested and killed
Polarization Prevention
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Security protection for moderate leaders
Assistance to human rights groups
Seizure of assets of extremists
International visas for extremists denied
Coup d'état (overthrow) by extremists
opposed
– By international sanctions
Stage 6. Preparation
• Identification and separation of victims
because of:
– Ethnic identity
– Religious identity
• Death list created
• Victims forced to wear identification symbol
– Ex. Serial number for Jews
Preparation cont.
• Victims segregated into ghettos
• Deported to concentration camps
• Confined to famine-struck region
– starved
Prevention of Genocidal Preparation
• If regional alliances or U.N. security can be
mobilized:
– Genocide Emergency must be declared
– Armed international intervention should be
prepared
– Heavy assistance provided to victim group
– Humanitarian assistance organized by U.N.
– Private relief groups for refugees
Stage 7. Extermination
• Quickly becomes a killing legally called
“Genocide”
• Called extermination to killers
– Do not believe their victims are fully human
• Sponsored by the state
– Armed forces work with militias to do the killing
Extermination cont.
• Genocide can result in revenge killings by
groups against each other
– Downward whirl-pool cycle of bilateral genocide
• Ex. Burundi
• Only rapid armed intervention can stop
genocide at this point
Extermination Prevention
• Real safe areas and refugee camps should be
established
– Heavily armed international protection
• Small genocides
– U.N. Security Council should authorize
• The U.N. Standing High Readiness Brigade
• EU Rapid Response Force
• Regional forces
Extermination Prevention cont.
• Larger interventions
– Multilateral force authorized by the U.N. should
intervene
• Regional alliances should act if U.N. cannot
• If strong nations will not provide troops, they
should send
– Airlift
– Equipment
– Financial help
Stage 8. Denial
• Surest indicator of genocidal massacre
• Perpetrators of genocide
– Dig up mass graves
– Burn bodies
– Try to cover up evidence
– Try to intimidate witnesses
Denial cont.
• Genocidal perpetrators deny committing
crime
– Blaming what happened on the victims
• Block investigation of crimes
• Continue to govern until forced to give up
power
– Flee into exile
• Remain there with impunity until captured and tribunal
is established
– Ex. Pol Pot, Idi Amin
Response to Denial
• Punishment by an international tribunal or
national court
– Evidence is heard
– Perpetrator is punished