Definition of Genocide

The practice of genocide has been part of the history of humanity. Over the millennia it has been known by different names, but all are methods to achieve the destruction of all, or part, of a people. The United Nations definition is strongly influenced by the experiences of W.W.II.
It is not the only definition of genocide, nor does it cover every type of crime against humanity.
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Cases of genocide through the ages

1. Ancient Period: (10,000 BC – 500 AD)

Genocide is not a new concept. Ever since Cain killed Abel, exterminating ones enemy has been a popular means to permanently eliminate a competitor or threat. One theory argues that pre-historic Neanderthal tribes became extinct largely due to attacks from Cro-Magnon tribes. The concept and practice of genocide was well developed by ancient times. The technology was primitive but extremely effective for the purpose of destroying rivals.

Case Studies

  1. Hebrews enter the Land of Canaan circa 1250 BC (Massacre of the Midianites.)
  2. Destruction of Lesbos 428-427 BC (Athens eliminates trading rival by massacre.)
  3. Destruction of Carthage circa 201 BC (Rome makes the land of Carthage barren.)
  4. Extermination of the Ainu 1 AD-Present (Japanese displacement of rival indigenous Caucasoid people from Japanese islands.)

2. Medieval Times: (500 AD – 1500 AD)

Among the modern day symbols of wanton destruction, and genocide few match those of medieval times. Prominent among these is the name “Genghis Khan”. The rise of European Christian rivalry with Islam has also left its mark on the modern world.

Case Studies:

  1. Extermination of the Picts circa 500 AD (Scottish settlers from Ireland exterminate indigenous Picts and establish Scotland.)
  2. Crusades 1099- 1291 (European attempt to seize the Holy Land and trade routes.)
  3. Mongol Invasion 1196-1227 (Genghis Khan and his Mongol armies lay waste of all in their path including whole cities and vast populations.)
  4. Catholic Church against Albigenesians 1209 AD (Assertion of unified Catholic authority against independent sect.)
  5. 2ND Mongol Invasion 1381-1405 (Tamerlane plunders and leaves path of carnage through Central Asia.)
  6. Russian Invasion of Novgorod 1478 (Principality destroyed and population massacred.)
  7. Spain 1492 (Destruction of 800 Years of Arab civilization with expulsion of the Moors.)

3. Colonial Period: (1500 AD – 1900 AD)

With the age of exploration, technologically superior European peoples have projected their military power throughout the world. In the quest for riches and power European empires regarded indigenous populations as a natural resource to be exploited or a physical obstacle to be overcome. Indigenous populations (and their institutions) were subjugated, dispersed or destroyed to facilitate the creation of a society in which privilege and power was reserved for a foreign ruling elite.

Case Studies:

  1. The Americas 1500 to Present (The arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas marked the start of 5 centuries of devastation, dispossession and extermination of the indigenous population; Beothuks of Newfoundland, Yahi of California, Amazon tribes, etc.)
  2. Africa From Slavery to 1994 (Commercial empires were built on the back of a slave trade that killed 10 for every one of 20 million slaves delivered alive to the Americas.)
  3. Expulsion of the Acadians 1755 (British alter demographics of conquered New France.)
  4. Huguenot Extermination 1585-1598 (French Catholics wipe out Protestant sect.)
  5. Tasmanian Extermination (Australian colonial settlers exterminate all aborigines.)
  6. Ireland Potato Famine 1845-1848 (Britain’s attempt to reduce the Catholics of Ireland.)
  7. Congo 1880-1900 (Massacre of indigenous people to assert Belgian colonial authority.)

4. Modern Era: (1900 AD – Present)

An eclectic period in man’s inhumanity to man. The 20th century includes examples of genocide that exploited the most modern means of extermination including nuclear weapons. The main innovation is related to methodology that makes possible the killing of people at great distances. However, as demonstrated recently in Rwanda, the simplest of weapons are still remarkably efficient tools of genocide.
Case Studies:

  1. Southwest Africa 1904 (Massacre of Herero people to assert German colonial authority.)
  2. Libya 1912-1942 (Arabs decimated by invading Italian fascist army of Mussolini.)
  3. Pontus Greeks 1914 (Ethnic cleansing of Greeks from Turkish Black Sea coast.)
  4. Armenia 1915-1918 (Ottoman Empire removes Armenians from Russian border area.)
  5. Kurdistan 1919-Present (Campaign to subjugate Kurds in Turkey, Iran and Iraq.)
  6. Soviet Union 1919-1939 (Forced collectivization and liquidation of regional resistance.)
  7. Imperial Japan’s invasion of China 1932-1945 (Mass murder, Rape of Nanking, slave labour.)
  8. Ukraine 1933 (Soviet program forces collectivization of agricultural production.)
  9. Aryan “Racial Cleansing” 1933-1945 (Extermination of mentally and physically disabled and “untermench” races; Blacks, Slavs, Jews, Roma.)
  10. Soviet Invasion of Baltic States 1939-1941 (Subjugation and forced assimilation.)
  11. Nazi Invasion of Eastern Europe 1939-1944 (Aryan quest for “Lebensraum”.)
  12. Bombing campaigns 1939-1945 (Deliberate and massive targeting of civilians by all sides.)
  13. Soviet invasion of Central Europe 1944-1945 (Destruction of population centres.)
  14. Soviet Union 1945 (Mass expulsion of German speaking people from Eastern Europe, as well as Chechens and Crimean Tartars to Siberia.)
  15. India/Pakistan 1947 (European drawn borders creating minorities and insecurity.)
  16. Palestine 1947-Present (Ethnic cleansing of Arab population by European Jewish settlers.)
  17. Tibet 1950-Present (Chinese subjugation and destruction of a people and culture.)
  18. Sudan 1955-Present (Northern Arab domination and slaughter of Black Southern peoples.)
  19. Rwanda/Burundi 1962-1972, 1994 (European drawn borders creating minorities and insecurity.)
  20. Chinese Cultural Revolution 1966-1969 (Attempt to maintain ideological purity through continuous revolution)
  21. Biafra 1967 (The famine of the Ibo nation imposed by Nigeria to win civil war.)
  22. Cambodia 1975-1979 (The slaughter of 2 million to eliminate undesirable classes of people.)
  23. East-Timor 1975-1999 (Invasion and massacre of indigenous population by Indonesia.)
  24. Sri Lanka 1983-Present (Destruction of people to end Tamil bid for independence.)
  25. Balkans 1990-Present (Fragmentation of Yugoslavia leading to policies of extermination.)

Genocide that share themes

1.Ethnic Cleansing

Many peoples in search of living space or secure borders have sought to eliminate established populations from the land. Other cases of ethnic cleansing have been motivated by a dominant power’s interest in controlling and exploiting the wealth of the occupied land.

Case Studies:

  1. The Americas 1500 to Present (Extermination of the indigenous population.)
  2. Expulsion of the Acadians 1755 (British alter demographics of conquered New France.)
  3. Armenia 1915-1918 (Ottoman Empire removes Armenians from Russian border area.)
  4. Nazi Invasion of Eastern Europe 1939-1944 (Aryan quest for “Lebensraum”-living space.)
  5. Soviet Union 1945 (Mass expulsion of German speaking people from Eastern Europe, as well as Chechens and Crimean Tartars to Siberia.)
  6. Palestine 1947-Present (Ethnic cleansing of Arab population by European Jewish settlers.)
  7. Balkans 1990′s (Fragmentation of Yugoslavia leading to policies of extermination.)

2. Total War

In the twentieth century the concept of total war has been developed to unprecedented heights. During W.W.II all powers with the ability to attack opposing civilian populations did so. German bombers carpet bombed Coventry, British bombers fire bombed Dresden, and United States bombers made the first use of nuclear weapons on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Imperial Japan’s invasion of China, including the rape of Nanking, resulted in 35 million casualties.

Case Studies:

  1. Bombing campaigns 1939-1945 (Deliberate and massive targeting of civilians.)
  2. Imperial Japan’s invasion of China 1932-1945 (rape of Nanking, slave labour)
  3. Nazi invasion of Eastern Europe 1939-1944 (Destruction of population centres.)
  4. Soviet invasion of Central Europe 1944-45 (Destruction of population centres.)

3. Famine

One of the oldest scourges of humanity, famine has been used as a weapon to break the will and resistance of many peoples. Sometimes the famine has been wholly engineered. Other cases are based on a natural occurrence that is ruthlessly exploited and exacerbated. Today, economic sanctions are a preferred form of economic warfare which in-turn is regarded by the world’s leading powers as a low-risk, low-cost alternative to conventional warfare.

Case Studies:

  1. Ireland Potato Famine 1845-1848 (Britain’s attempt to reduce the Catholics of Ireland.)
  2. Ukraine 1933 (Soviet program forces collectivization of agricultural production.)
  3. Biafra 1967 (The famine of the Ibo nation imposed by Nigeria to win civil war.)

4. Social Engineering

Attempts by regimes to redefine the social, economic, cultural and political structures and systems within their control have led to cases of vast human suffering. The methodology has included forced assimilation and mass murder.

Case Studies:

  1. Africa From Slavery to 1994 (Commercial empires were built on the back of a slave trade that killed 10 for every one of 20 million slaves delivered alive to the Americas.)
  2. Soviet Union 1919-1939 (Forced collectivization and liquidation of regional resistance.)
  3. Aryan Racial Cleansing 1933-1945 (Extermination of mental and physical defectives and “untermench” races i.e. Blacks, Slavs, Jews, Roma.)
  4. Chinese Cultural Revolution 1966-1969 (Attempt to maintain ideological purity through continuous revolution)
  5. Cambodia 1975-1979 (The mass murder of 2 million citizens in effort to eliminate certain classes of people.)