This thorough overview of all aspects of the field of genocide studies brings together for the first time classic and contemporary writings from some of the most noted scholars writing on genocide in the fields of genocide studies, political science, history, and sociology. The Reader covers key aspects of a host of complex and thorny issues, such as the definition of genocide, theories of genocide, prevention and intervention, and its denial. This collection of writings is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand this most atrocious form of political violence that has plagued human history.

Table of Contents

Part I: Definitions of Genocide 1. The Origin of the Term Genocide and the Definition Used in the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide 1.1. "Genocide: A Modern Crime" by Raphael Lemkin 1.2. "Development of the Rule on Genocide" by Lawrence J. LeBlanc 1.3. "Intent" by Morten Bergsmo 1.4. The United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide 2. Alternative Definitions 2.1. "The Definition of Genocide" by Israel W. Charny 2.2. "Human Destructiveness and Politics: The Twentieth Century as an Age of Genocide" by Roger Smith 2.3. "Defining Genocide as a Sociological Concept" by Helen Fein 3. Related Terms 3.1. "A Typology of Cleansing" by Andrew Bell-Fialkoff 3.2. "Explaining Ethnic Cleansing" by Michael Mann 3.3. "Recognizing Genocides and Politicides" by Barbara Harff 3.4. "Crimes Against Humanity" by William Schabas 3.5. "Massacres" by Jacques Semelin PART II: Theories and Causes of Genocide 4. Theories of Genocide 4.1. "The Origins of Genocide and Mass Killing: Core Concepts" by Ervin Staub 4.2. "The Etiology of Genocides" by Barbara Harff 4.3. "Scarcity and Genocide" by Roger W. Smith 4.4. "The Eight Stages of Genocide" by Gregory Stanton PART III Genocidal Crimes 5. Cases of Genocide 5.1. "The History of Genocide: An Overview" by Paul R. Bartrop and Samuel Totten 5.2. "Holocaust: Genocide of the Jews" by Donald Niewyk 5.3. "State Rape: Sexual Violence as Genocide" by Lisa Sharlach 5.4. "Srebrenica" by Jan Willem Honig 5.5. "The Darfur Genocide" by Samuel Totten 6. Comparative Studies of Various Cases of Genocide 6.1. "The Armenian Genocide as Precursor and Prototype of Twentieth Century Genocide" by Robert F. Melson 6.2. "Twentieth Century Genocides: Underlying Ideological Themes from Armenia to East Timor" by Ben Kiernan 6.3. "Connecting Threads: Rwanda, the Holocaust, and the Pattern of Contemporary Genocide" by Mark Levene PART IV: The Complexities of the Prevention and Intervention of Genocide 7. The Issues of Sovereignty and Political Will 7.1. "Realpolitik" by M. Cherif Bassouni 7.2. "The Concept of Sovereignty and the Development of International Law" by Jackson Nyamuya Maogoto 7.3. "The Dilemma of Political Will: How Fixed, How Malleable the Domestic Constraints?" by Bruce W. Jentleson 7.4. The Responsibility to Protect: Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty 8. The Prevention of Genocide 8.1. "Early Warning" by Gregory H. Stanton 8.2. "The Three P's of Genocide Prevention: With Application to a Genocide Foretold -- Rwanda" by Helen Fein 8.3. Interview: General Romeo Dallaire 9. Intervention 9.1. "Policies of Militarized Humanitarian Intervention" by Thomas G. Weiss and Cindy Collins 9.2. "Economic Sanctions and Genocide: Too Little, Too Late, and Sometimes Too Much" by George A. Lopez 9.3. "The East Pakistan (Bangladesh) Intervention of 1971" by Francis Kofi Abiew 9.4. "Vietnam's Intervention in Cambodia (Kampuchea), 1978" by Francis Kofi Abiew 9.5. "Against the Grain: The East Timor Intervention" by James Cotton 9.6. "Reflections on the Legality and Legitimacy of NATO'S Intervention in Kosovo" by Nicholas J. Wheeler PART V: Prosecution of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide 10. Setting a Precedent: The Nuremberg Trials 10.1. "The Path to Nuremberg" by Howard Ball 11. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia 11.1. "International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia" by Payam Akhavan and Mora Johnson 11.2. "Radislav Krstic Becomes the First Person to Be Convicted of Genocide at the ICTY and Is Sentenced to 46 Years Imprisonment." 12. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 12.1. "The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda" by Peter Uvin and Charles Mironko 12.2. "Formation of the ICTR: Formation of the International Criminal Tribunal" by Howard Ball 12.3. "International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda" by Michelle S. Lyon and Mark A. Drumbl 12.4. "Historic Judgement Finds Akayesu Guilty of Genocide." 13. Trials in National Courts 13.1. "Trials for Genocide in Rwanda" by Jennifer Balint 14. The International Criminal Court (ICC) 14.1. "Nuremberg's Legacy: Adoption of the Rome Statute" by Howard Ball PART VI: Denial of Genocide 15. Denial of Genocide 15.1. "A Classification of Denials of the Holocaust and Other Genocides" by Israel W. Charny

About the Author

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA Deakin University, Australia

Reviews

"The Genocide Studies Reader is a very useful introduction to the many acts of genocide all over the world as well as to the genocide studies field in general. Analyzing legal and sociological definitions and discussions, this book is an essential synthesis of the works produced in English on the subject." --Dr. Daniel Feierstein, Director, Center of Genocide Studies, Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, Republica Argentina "This reader provides an excellent introduction to the field of genocide studies. Ranging far and wide, the volume includes foundational essays and covers key topics such as issues of definition, sexual violence, prevention, legal redress, intervention, and denial. It is a great resource both for classroom use and for scholars, students, and anyone interested in genocide." --Alex Hinton, Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights, Rutgers, Newark "It is no longer the historical occurrence of genocide that preoccupies social scientists, rather its disturbing recurrence in recent times despite the international conventions drawn up to protect human rights. To address this new reality, this instructive reader on the subject of genocide goes beyond the challenges of definition, theory, and history, and looks at the promise of intervention, prosecution, and prevention. All aspects of the problem of genocide are explored with particular attention to the issue of sovereignty and adjudication in the face of the hurdles of the claims of immunity and denials of responsibility. This collection of authoritative voices addressing this most serious crime against humanity brings new focus to the conflict between national and international interests and between standards of legality and the claims of state authority, and underscores no less the importance of studying the problem as much as developing the instruments to restrain mass violence." --Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director, Armenian National Institute "This is a truly excellent collection of readings and an important addition to the field of genocide studies. I very much look forward to using it with my students and thus giving them an additional opportunity to expand their knowledge of the field. Professors Totten and Bartrop are to be commended for putting together such an insightful and valuable collection of readings. Well done!" --Steven Jacobs, The University of Alabama