Genocide Research Paper Topics

Genocide The year is 2017 and you have just been informed that you have three weeks to evacuate your community with whatever you can fit inside a suitcase. What would you do if a genocide began that targeted you? The concept of genocide and the actions taken have created many deaths and mass atrocities throughout history. Defined during the Holocaust era, genocide has had a direct impact on history; however, future genocides can be preventing by following Dr. Gregory Stanton’s 10 stage process. Although many people understand the basic concept, they may not know the many different definitions of genocide and how the word “genocide” can be used in different contexts.
Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide” in 1944 when describing the policy
Stanton, the crime of genocide has ten stages. These ten stages are: classification, symbolization, discrimination, dehumanization, organization, polarization, preparation, persecution, extermination, and denial. During the first stage, classification, the societies that are bipolar and lack mixed categories are most likely to have genocide. Symbolization occurs when a symbol, specifically a hate symbol, is forced upon a group and can lead to genocide if the symbolization leads into dehumanization. When a dominant group uses things such as law and political power to deny rights of other groups, they are discriminating against them. If there is discrimination against groups they may face great consequences such as losing citizenship and possibly even dehumanization. Dehumanization occurs when one group completely denies the humanity of another. The members of this other group are equated with animals, insects, or disease. During this stage the hate propaganda can be heard over radios and seen on newspapers to vilify the victim group. This is an important stage because, “Genocidal societies lack constitutional protection for countervailing speech, and should be treated differently than democracies (Stanton).” Once dehumanization has taken effect, the organization stage begins. Genocide is always organized. Militaries or militias are formed to protect the government and proceed with the process of genocide. Then the plans are made for genocidal killings. After
Stanton’s ten stages, there is a preventative measure that can be taken. The first stage, classification, can be prevented by achieving common ground. According to Dr. Stanton, “The main preventative measure at this early stage is to develop universalistic institutions that transcend ethnic or racial divisions, that actively promote tolerance and understanding, and that promote classifications that transcend the divisions.” It is vital that common ground is reached in the early stages of genocide prevention. Prevention of symbolization is very dependent on government intervention. “To combat symbolization, hate symbols can be legally forbidden as can hate speech. Group marking like gang clothing or tribal scarring can be outlawed, as well.” With this prevention, though, the legal limitations can fail if they are unsupported by popular cultural enforcement. On the flip side though, denial of symbolization can be powerful if widely supported. Discrimination is prevented by an even larger government influence than the symbolization stage. “Prevention against discrimination means full political empowerment and citizenship rights for all groups in a society. Discrimination on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, race or religion should be outlawed.” If an individual feels that their rights have been violated, that individual should have the right to sue the state. Simply put, every citizen should have equal say in the government and have the same rights no matter