Genocide and Crimes against Humanity in the 20th Century

“There aren’t just bad people that commit genocide; we are all capable of it. It’s our evolutionary history.”-

James Lovelock

Thoughts on 20th century conflict

“Genocide is not just murderous madness; it is more deeply a politics that promises a utopia beyond politics- one people, one land, one truth, the end of difference. Since genocide is a form of political utopia, it remains an enduring temptation in any multiethnic and multicultural society in crisis.” – Michael Ignatieff

The 20th century taught us how far unbridled evil can and will go when the world fails to confront it. It is time that we heed the lessons of the 20th century.”

-Allyson Schwartz

Post WWII

After the horrors inflicted upon the civilian populations of the World during the two World Wars, resolutions were created to try to understand and prosecute the inhumane policies and actions of world leaders.

Why were civilian populations targeted during these wars? What technologies contributed to higher civilian casualties higher? How many civilians were killed in WWII? Soldiers?

The Geneva Convention of 1949 in Geneva, Switzerland was an attempt to establish international regulations on acts of war and limit the effects of war on civilian populations.

Definitions

Crimes against humanity were defined as any of nine crimes directed against civilians during armed conflict:

Genocide was defined as intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.

War crimes are defined as any of five crimes in how a war effort is conducted and generally address treatment of property, cultural sites, and use of weaponry.

Overlap?

Objectives of the Terms

The two concepts have different objectives:

“Crimes against Humanity” aims at protecting the individual. The systematic, mass killing of a very large number of individuals will constitute a crime against humanity.

“Genocide” aims at protecting the group. Genocide focuses not on the killing of individuals, but on the destruction of groups who share an ethnic, national, political or racial identity.

Difference between C.A.H and Genocide charge: charge of C.A.H attaches to the individual who is charged, while a genocide charge attaches not to an individual but to his or her ethnic group as well. (Ex: Germans after the Holocaust)

Outcomes of the Convention

ICC- Founded in 1998- A need for a court with international jurisdiction emerged throughout the 20th century. 120 countries are members of the ICC, which tries cases of genocide, C.A.H. and war crimes.

Amnesty International- A global non-profit with over 7 million volunteers in 150 countries who campaign to end abuses of human rights. Reflects a global, social value change reflecting ideas of humanism from the enlightenment.

Declaration of Universal Human Rights- Adopted by the UN in 1948- the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.

Gallery Walk

8 case studies of events that occurred during the 20th and 21st centuries are posted throughout the room.

Using the graphic organizer and the definitions of terms sheet handed out at the beginning of class, categorize the events depicted throughout the gallery walk as either Genocide or a Crime Against Humanity (It is implied that war crimes were necessarily committed already). Explain your reasoning in the “Explanation” box. Use at least 3 pieces of historical evidence described in the gallery walk to support your conclusion.

You may work with a partner on this assignment.

Reflection Questions

Do you think the global humanist movements of Post- WWII have had tangible effects in spite of the fact that war crimes, genocide and C.A.H are still occurring?

If yes, what has changed in the last 65 years that reflects this movement?

If no, what has caused this movement to be unsuccessful?