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 ↘

• 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

• 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