Raphael Lemkin: The Origins Of Genocide

Words: 681
Pages: 3
Open Document
The origin of the term genocide comes from a Polish scholar named Raphael Lemkin who was very interested in mass murder. The jurist Raphael Lemkin was the scholar of international law who had coined the legal concept of the term genocide in 1944. Lemkin had come upon Plato’s use of the Greek word for a race, or tribe. The idea naturally occurred to Lemkin to add the Latin cide, which means “killer”, or “act of killing” in Latin, as in homicide and suicide. Carrying on from the origin of genocide, while attempts to destroy groups has been a huge part of human history, such were usually identified, if at all, either by a description of the action or by subsuming the act under some very general concept, such as massacres, mass murder, or …show more content…
Classification is the stage in which a preventive measure is to develop universalistic institutions that transcend ethnic or racial divisions that actively promote tolerance (Stanton). For symbolization, names are given or other symbols to the classifications. We distinguish them by colors or dress and apply the symbols to members of groups. To combat symbolization, hate symbols can be legally forbidden, as can hate speech. A major problem is legal limitations will fail if unsupported by popular cultural enforcement (Stanton). “Another stage of genocide is dehumanization. This is when one group denies the humanity of the target group. Members of it are equated with animals, insects, or …show more content…
To vilify the victim group, they use hate propaganda in print and on radios. Genocidal societies lack constitutional protection for countervailing speech, and should be treated differently than democracies” (Stanton). Genocide is always organized, usually by the state, often using militias to provide deniability of state responsibility. Usually special army units or militias are often trained and armed. Plans are made for genocidal killings. To combat this, membership in these militias should be outlawed (Stanton). “Extremist tend to drive the groups apart, this stage is called polarization. Multiple hate groups begin broadcasting polarizing propaganda. Laws will forbid intermarriage or social interaction. Prevention for polarization may mean security protection for moderate leaders or assistance to human rights groups. Assets of extremist may be seized and visas for international travel denied to them” (Stanton). The following stage is when victims are identified and separated out due to their ethnic or religious identity. This is known as the preparation stage. Also, death lists are written up.
Show More

Related Documents: Raphael Lemkin: The Origins Of Genocide

Raphael Lemkin Genocide

Since then, this century has witnessed steadily increasing incidents of genocide such as those in Germany, in Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Bangladesh and the most recently in Sudan. The inception of a specific legal regime to deal with the crime of genocide can be traced to the growing incidence of violence perpetrated against groups, targeted on account of race, ethnicity or national origin. Genocide is a crime that goes against the highest of human values and breaches the…

Words 899 - Pages 4

Analysis Of 'Raphael Lemkin Genocide'

Notting Hill Editions William Hazlitt Essay Prize 2013. His essay, Raphael Lemkin and Genocide gives recognition to an almost forgotten figure of one of the most documented times of recent history. At a ceremony in Soho last night, Chair of judges Harry Mount said, ‘Michael Ignatieff's moving essay restores Raphael Lemkin's status as the man who invented the term 'genocide' and was largely responsible for the UN Convention on Genocide. The essay is a rare, deftly-written combination of well-researched…

Words 1334 - Pages 6

Eight Stages Of The Holocaust

laborers.” First off, genocide is term used to describe horrendous events in history that most the time, the people who committed the massacres try to not use because of how gruesome this word is. During this time, the Jewish culture wasn’t appreciated for a long time and nobody really recognized it until one of the largest murders of a single race took place. Furthermore, there are eight stages that are commonly used to characterize such a massacre as a genocide. This Genocide, known as the Holocaust…

Words 2032 - Pages 9

Legal Studies 1 Essay

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). INTRODUCTION IIWhat is Genocide? WHAT IS GENOCIDE?   The term ‘genocide’ was derived in 1943 by Raphael Lemkin. Lemkin was a Jewish lawyer who escaped Nazi occupation of Poland during the Holocaust. Genocide means “the…

Words 7303 - Pages 30