1st Edition

Constructing Genocide and Mass Violence Society, Crisis, Identity

By Maureen S. Hiebert Copyright 2017
242 Pages
by Routledge

242 Pages
by Routledge

242 Pages
by Routledge

This book addresses two closely related questions: what is the process by which the relatively short and violent genocides of the twentieth century and beyond have occurred? Why have these instances of mass violence been genocidal and not some other form of state violence, repression, or conflict? Hiebert answers these questions by exploring the structures and processes that underpin the... Read more

Chapter 1: The genocidal process: a constructivist approach

Introduction

Part I: Theorizing the "permissive" socio-political environment of genocide

Introduction

I. The ‘permissive’ socio-political environment: a theoretical overview

II. Three dimensions of the permissive socio-political environment of genocide

Chapter 2: Germany

I. Exclusionary and unequal patterns of group interaction

II. Exclusionary conceptions of the community

III. Authoritarian modes of conflict management

Chapter 3: Cambodia

I. Exclusionary and unequal patterns of group interaction

II. Exclusionary conceptions of the community

III. Authoritarian modes of conflict management

Conclusion to Part I

Part II: Introduction crises and interpretation: the catalyst for killing

Introduction

Chapter 4: Inter-war Germany: crises and interpretation

I. Security crises

II. Economic crises

III. Political crises

Chapter 5: Cambodia: the Sihanoukist and Lon Nol years: crises and interpretation

I. Economic crises

II. Political crises

III. Military and security crises

Conclusion to Part II

Part III: Reconceptualizing the victim group: the "three switches" of genocide

Introduction

I. Genocide as a strategic or rational choice?

II. Constructing victims: a constructivist explanation

III. The "three switches"

III. Warrants for genocide

Chapter 6: Nazi final solution

I. Switch one: victims as foreigners

II. Switch two: victims as mortal threats

III. Switch three: victims as sub-humans

Chapter 7: The Khmer Rouge killing fields

I. Switch one: victims as foreigners

II. Switch two: victims as mortal threat

III. Switch three:victims as sub-humans

Chapter 8: Vietnam: abuses without genocide

I. Switch one: victims as wayward opponents

II. Switch two: the threat of actors with real power

Conclusion to Part III

Biography

Maureen S. Hiebert is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, Canada.