8 Steps of Genocide

8 Steps

1.) Classification2.) Symbolization3.) Dehumanization4.) Organization5.) Polarization6.) Preparation7.) Extermination8.) Denial

Classification

-Grouping of people into (often ranked) categories

-Example: In Cambodia, circa 1975, educated professionals (such as teachers and doctors) were targeted by the oppressive government of Pol Pot and accused of political dissent.

Symbolization

-Assigning symbols to represent targeted groups as well as those in power

-Example: Like during the Holocaust, religious symbols were significant during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The Ottoman Empire (Islamic) targeted non-Muslim Armenians ("infidels"). (Star or David; Swastika)

Dehumanization

-Treating targeted groups as though they are second-class citizens, or not even fully human.

-Example: Minority Tutsis (lighter-skinned, taller) were targeted by the majority Hutus in Rwanda...seemingly due to their ethnicity, though tension had been mounting between the groups for decades. (1994)

Organization

-Genocide is typically very well-organized (the Third Reich was meticulously so...).

-Example: The "Rape of Nanking" of 1937 was orchestrated by the very well-organized Japanese army, which stormed the city (and the not-so-well organized Chinese army), with orders to "kill all survivors."

Polarization

-Targeted groups are kept separated from the general population, which helps to establish an "us vs. them" mentality.

-Example: In the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-1995), the Serbian leader (Orthodox Christian) preached religious and ethnic intolerance against Muslims and Croats (who practiced Catholicism).

Preparation

-Once targeted groups have been dehumanized, polarized, and separated from the rest of the population, preparations for the actual systematic killing begin.

Example: When "purging" Indonesia of Communists, the army began in the capital (Jakarta) and later spreading to other parts of the country. 1965-1966

Extermination

-The systematic killing of the targeted group

-Example: It is estimated that between 40 million to 80 million (perhaps more!) Chinese and Tibetans were killed during "Chairman" Mao Zedong's reign (father of Communist China). He used guerrilla attacks to full-scale battles. 1945-1976

Denial

-Claims that the organized killing of millions of people isn't happening, or never really happened, or that the "facts" are "twisted" in some way.

-Because of continued international denial and inaction against North Korea, the systematic killing of its own people continues to this day.