Stages of Genocide

Question 1

What is genocide?

Answer 1

Genocide is the intentional and systematic extermination of a specific racial, ethnic, religious, or national group with the aim of destruction

Question 2

Stages of Genocide: Classification

Answer 2

Establishment of a division in society that separates the targeted group
Us vs. Them
This classification can be done by the government or other institutions. It is often the first step in creating division and hostility between groups.

Question 3

Stages of Genocide: Symbolization

Answer 3

Groups are assigned symbols, names, or other visual representations to distinguish them from others.
In Rwanda ethnicity was listed on identification cards and Tutsis were given less access to education and when Rwanda became independent the Hutu preference switched in society.

Question 4

Stages of Genocide: Dehumanization

Answer 4

One group denies the humanity of another group, and makes the victim group seem subhuman.
● Hate propaganda in speeches, print and on hate radios vilify the victim group.
● Members of the victim group are described as animals, vermin, and diseases.

Question 5

Stages of Genocide: Organization

Answer 5

Genocidal groups organize and plan their actions.
This can involve training, arming, and coordinating members to carry out violent acts against the targeted group
The government and Hutu Power businessmen provided the militias with over 500,000 machetes and other arms and set up camps to train them

Question 6

Stages of Genocide: Polarization

Answer 6

This stage increases tension and makes it more difficult for moderate voices to be heard.
● Extreme ideologies and rhetoric
become more prevalent.
● Attacks are staged and blamed
on targeted groups.
● Cultural centers of targeted
groups are attacked.

Question 7

Stages of Genocide: Preparation

Answer 7

The preparation stage involves:
● The selection of targets
● Planning of killings
● The building of infrastructure for mass
murder
● Stockpiling weapons

Question 8

Stages of Genocide: Extermination

Answer 8

The goal is to eliminate the group entirely or reduce it to a powerless minority.
The deliberate killing of members of the targeted group on a large scale.
● This is the stage when the mass killing legally becomes genocide
● Most genocide is sponsored and financed by the state

Question 9

Stages of Genocide: Denial

Answer 9

After the genocide is carried out, the perpetrators and their supporters often engage in denial and a cover to deny the atrocities.
● Question and minimize the statistics.
● Block access to archives and witnesses.
● Destroy the evidence

Question 10

Why does Genocide still happen?

Answer 10

Genocide succeeds when state sovereignty blocks international responsibility to protect.
The UN represents states, not people. Since the founding of UN:
● Over 45 genocides and politicides
● Over 70 million dead
● Lack of authoritative international institutions to predict
● Lack of ready rapid response forces to stop it
● Lack of political will to peacefully prevent it and to
forcefully intervene to stop it