What is Genocide?In this intellectually and politically potent new book, Martin Shaw proposes a way through the confusion surrounding the idea of genocide. He considers the origins and development of the concept and its relationships to other forms of political violence. Offering a radical critique of the existing literature on genocide, Shaw argues that what distinguishes genocide from more legitimate warfare is that the enemies targeted are groups and individuals of a civilian character. He vividly illustrates his argument from a wide range of historical episodes, and shows how the question 'What is genocide?' matters politically whenever populations are threatened by violence. This compelling book will undoubtedly open up vigorous debate, appealing to students and scholars across the social sciences and in law. Shaw's arguments will be of lasting importance. |
Contents
1 The Sociological Crime | 3 |
Contradictions of Genocide Theory | 15 |
2 Neglected Foundations | 17 |
3 The Maximal Standard | 37 |
4 The Minimal Euphemism | 48 |
5 Conceptual Proliferation | 63 |
Sociology of Genocide | 79 |
6 From Intentionality to a Structural Concept | 81 |
7 Elements of Genocidal Conflict | 97 |
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Common terms and phrases
actors argued armed power organizations Armenian attacked Axis Rule Bauman campaign Charny cide civilian populations civilian resistance combatants common concept of genocide context crimes against humanity cultural Darfur Dark Side debate define genocide definition destroy developed distinction economic element Emphasis in original episodes Eric Reeves ethnic cleansing ethnic conflict ethnic groups ethnocide explain expulsion extermination Fein forces framework gendercide geno Genocide Convention genocide studies genocide's genocidists German historical Holocaust humanitarian Hutu idea of genocide ideal types identity ideological individual international law involved Janjaweed Jewish Jews laws of war Lemkin Mann Mann's maquis Masalit mass killing mass murder meaning military modern murderous cleansing Nazi particular perpetrators physical destruction politicide quoted ibid racial Raphael Lemkin recognized regimes relations relationship religious Rwanda Schabas sense social destruction social groups society sociological target group territory tion Tutsis type of genocidal unarmed understanding uniqueness violence Weber Zaghawa