SOC 3830 Genocide Studies

The actus reus is the physical act of committing a crime.

The mens rea is the mental state of the perpetrator at the time of the crime. It refers to the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing.

Raphael Lemkin coined the term 'genocide' in 1944 to describe the deliberate destruction of national, social, religious, or racial groups.

Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, ethnic, national, or religious group. It involves acts aimed at eliminating the group, such as killing, inflicting severe bodily or mental harm, and imposing conditions that lead to physical destruction.

Carceral spaces are areas where people are incarcerated, punished, or harmed. During genocide, these spaces include concentration camps, prisons, detention centers, and even colonized lands.

The International Court of Justice and other international tribunals use three methods to determine intent in genocide cases: analyzing individual perpetrator actions, identifying a comprehensive plan, and recognizing a consistent pattern of behavior.

Critical Race Theory (CRT) examines how race and racism are embedded in legal systems, policies, and social structures.

Sofsky argues that carceral spaces created a system of power within the concentration camp system of Nazi Germany. This system of power, through control and terrorization, contributed to the order of terror in the concentration camps.

A theoretical framework that critiques the historical and ongoing exploitation of the Global South by the Global North, highlighting the impact of colonialism, enslavement, and resource theft.

A term coined by Carl Oglesby in 1969 to describe the systemic power imbalance between the wealthier, industrialized nations of the North and the historically exploited nations of the South.

The intentional and systematic destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

A legal definition of genocide that focuses on actions intended to physically destroy a targeted group, often emphasizing the intent to cause harm.

The intentional and systematic destruction of a group's social, cultural, or political relationships, aiming to dismantle its collective identity and existence.

The emphasis on physical destruction over cultural destruction in the legal definition of genocide, which is seen as excluding the full scope of genocide.

The practice of forcefully assimilating Indigenous peoples into dominant society, often through residential schools, with the aim of eliminating their cultural identity and traditional practices.

The intention to permanently disrupt the social relationships and connections within a targeted group, as seen in the context of residential schools.

The intentional action of removing children from their families and communities to assimilate them into a different culture, often with the goal of erasing their traditional ways of life.

The process of absorbing a group into another culture, often erasing their unique traditions, language, and practices.

Abuse, including cultural, spiritual, psychological, physical, and sexual forms, used to undermine and destroy a group's identity and its ability to thrive.

The intentional and deliberate plan to eliminate a group, often motivated by beliefs about racial superiority or cultural dominance.

The complex and sometimes hidden process of how intent translates into action, often involving a series of decisions and events that lead to genocide.

The recognition that genocide has a deep impact on survivors and their families, acknowledging the extent of the destruction inflicted on their communities.

The official apology issued by the Canadian government in 2008, acknowledging the harmful consequences of the Indian residential schools policy and its lasting impact on Indigenous communities.

The perception that a group of people is the 'us' and another group is the 'them', often leading to prejudice and discrimination.

When symbols are used to identify and separate members of a targeted group, often leading to dehumanization and further discrimination.

The denial of rights and freedoms to a particular group, often through laws, customs, or political power.

A formal process of inquiry and dialogue, often established to investigate past injustices and promote healing and reconciliation.

A theory that focuses on the power imbalances within society and how they contribute to crime and social inequality.

The systemic overrepresentation of minority groups in the criminal justice system, often linked to discriminatory practices and societal biases.

The practice of using radar to identify and locate unmarked graves, often associated with investigations into historical injustices, such as residential schools.

A term coined by legal scholar Raphael Lemkin in 1944 to describe the deliberate destruction of national, social, religious, or racial groups.

The crime of preventing and punishing genocide, which involves failing to take action to stop the crime and failing to punish those responsible.

A legal case where survivors of the Srebrenica massacre successfully sued the Dutch government for failing to protect them, resulting in the Dutch government being found responsible for the killings of 350 men and boys.

The deliberate and systematic acts of violence, including killings, torture, and forced displacement, aimed at eliminating or expelling a specific ethnic or religious group from a territory.

Raphael Lemkin, the legal scholar who coined the term 'genocide', initially disputed the classification of the Holodomar (the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33) as genocide. However, after Stalin's death in 1953, Lemkin acknowledged the Holodomar as a genocide.

Raphael Lemkin categorized the mass murders and cultural destruction that occurred in the Baltic states during World War II as genocide in 1944. This classification was disputed by Soviet experts.

The Russian political commentator Aleksandr Etkind argues that Vladimir Putin tries to conflate Russian and Ukrainian identities. He also posits that the motivations behind genocide often lie in the desire of aggressors to impose their order upon conquered territories.

Timofey Sergeytsev, a Russian commentator, describes Ukrainian nationalism as an artificial construct that lacks its own cultural identity, viewing it as a subordinate element of a foreign civilization. He supports the 'de-Nazification' of Ukraine and believes Russia should control the country to protect Russian Ukrainians from genocide.

Andriy Kostin, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, in 2022, documented a range of atrocities committed by Russian forces against Ukrainian civilians, including rapes, physical harm, kidnappings, and mass executions. Evidence of war crimes and mass atrocities is substantial, but establishing the intent (mens rea) behind these actions is challenging.

Dr. Ibrahim, an international law expert, argues that Russia's actions in Ukraine, particularly its propaganda and incitement of violence against Ukrainians, constitute a genocidal crime. This view is shared by many Western countries.

The Rwandan genocide of 1994, carried out by Hutu extremists against the Tutsi population, involved the systematic killing, assault, and theft of Tutsi people over a period of 100 days. This genocide was fueled by long-standing political tensions exacerbated by colonial policies.

Memories of the Rwandan genocide are deeply embedded in Rwandan society, shaping its social structure and daily life. There is an ongoing effort to remember and commemorate this tragic event, serving as a reminder of the dangers of ethno-political violence.