Chapter 1: Genocide, A Playbook for Disaster
Over the course of history, genocide has stood as one of the gruesome acts humans have committed and acted as direct violations of basic human rights. Extremist groups and sometimes even governments over the years have developed a playbook for genocide. Unfortunately, this repeated progression towards genocide has been seen on numerous instances in history. In the discussion about the causes, processes, and strategies of genocide, three main steps are taken to reach genocide. Starting with the exclusion of a certain minority group to, complete dehumanization and ending with extermination; these strategies have been prevalent in history particularly seen in the Holocaust and Rwandan genocide.
One of history’s prime examples of how genocide was masterstroke to incite unnecessary violence against a minority group was the Holocaust. For example, Kristallnacht or the night of broken glass has remained one of history’s devastating moments (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2022). Jews were targeted by the Nazis through destroying synagogues, vandalizing homes and taking them to concentration camps (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2022). This shows how the minority group was first excluded from German society through these horrendous acts such as vandalizing, dehumanizing through targeted acts of violence and exterminated through moving them to concentration camps and facing terrible treatment - sometimes even death. It can be seen that extremist parties or groups do not randomly start apprehending Jews, but have a careful approach to using propaganda and camps to instigate hate among the people (Stop Genocide Now, 2022). Hate is known fly around like plaque and ultimately cause genocide at its peak.
Another example would be the mass murder of the Tutsis in Rwanda by the Hutus. Here it is clear how after months and years of tensions, the climax of genocide had been reached to the part where extermination was occurring (Stop Genocide Now, 2022). This shows how governments and extremist groups under the disguise of governments slowly spread hate to ultimately reach their goal of extermination of a certain minority group or race.
Through the examples discussed above it is clear that genocide is a carefully written plan carried out by extremist groups where the process stars from exclusion from society, dehumanization and finally extermination. It is clear that these are the main strategies and process extremist groups used to conduct and cause genocide in the end which results in mass death and huge displacement of people.
Chapter 2: Exploitation of the Genocide Playbook
Genocide covers the destruction of a race, ethnicity, or minority or majority group by a group of people with a harsh intent to destroy. The history of the word comes from the tactical and holistic destruction of minority groups from larger groups ie. Nazis against Jews. Victims of genocide in a certain area typically experience direct violence and often seek refugee in safe countries as seen in the Rwanda crisis those who are not part of the attack or victims they get stuck in the constant destruction going around in that area. Some of the genocides that take place today include the exclusion and elimination of Ughyurs in China, acts of violence against the Rohingya population in Myanmar. These are similar to the Holocaust as the slow progression of reaching genocide is and the role the government plays in each situation as either a bystander or antagonist is similar. Both of these genocides utilize the strategies of exclusion, dehumanization and extermination of certain groups in the current time period.
A closer look into the Uighur genocide (going on since 2014), reveals how Chinese government carefully used a playbook to conduct genocide (Amnesty International USA, 2022). First the Uighurs were excluded from Chinese society (approximately a population of 12 million people). They were then faced with dehumanizing treatment by being sent to education camps by the government and not having the same freedoms other Chinese citizens have (Amnesty International USA, 2022). Peak extermination has not been reached but the birth rate of Uighurs has decreased by 60% which shows how the Chinese government is directly responsible for the slow decrease in the Uighur population (Amnesty International USA, 2022). It is seen that government is able to conduct such genocide under the disguise of their own government and this example clearly highlights how exclusion and dehumanization was used as a strategy.
Another example would be the mass murder of the Rohingya population. This ethnic group is being targeted in Myanmar (Human Rights Watch, 2022). This has caused many to take refuge in neighboring countries such as India and Bangladesh (Human Rights Watch, 2022). Around 800,000 people have been displaced due to the mass murder of the Rohingya in the Burma/ Myanmar region (Human Rights Watch, 2022). Important figures such as Aug San Su Kyi have been criticized for not taking action on behalf of the Burmese government to stop such genocide in this time period. This shows how governments stand idle as bystanders and have allowed for such playbooks of genocide to unfold and in this case even lead to extermination.
Both current genocides have the common following of exploiting strategies from a playbook for genocide which is seen through first excluding, dehumanizing and exterminating groups from a country’s population. Governments either act as the villain or bystander and fail to act when mass death occurs or huge figures of displacement of people. Sometimes when refuge crises occur they are due to such genocides occurring which was clearly seen in the Rohingya crisis and may later be seen in the Uighur genocide.
Chapter 3: Combating Genocide
Genocide has always been preventable. Over the course of history genocide has been used to ultimately exterminate certain minority groups as seen in the Holocaust of Jews and Rwandan genocide as well as currently in the Uighur crisis and Rohingya population genocide. These genocides have all had one thing in common, they all follow the playbook of genocide which entails first excluding, dehumanizing, and then extermination of the people. One of the powerful forces that pulls the strings when this playbook is in play is the government. With government intervention the resulting problems could have been avoided. Along with government intervention, international support is also needed which can help in many ways on the world stage. In order to combat and solve genocide, local governments need to intervene immediately and the world needs to involved completely or else mass death may occur as seen in the Rwandan and Rohingya genocide.
One example of such lack of international intervention is in the Rwandan genocide (Stop Genocide Now, 2022). Governments like America or Belgium failed to intervene. This resulted in massive death across the nation and huge displacement. Things like these are what lead to not stopping the extremist groups. Moreover, if the governments were intervene from an international platform it could have been seen that maybe the genocide was prevented. Therefore, when the event is broadcasted on an international stage the genocide can be combatted and perhaps stopped at an early stage.
Another example would be the mass murder of the Rohingya population. This ethnic group is being targeted in Myanmar (Human Rights Watch, 2022). This has caused many to take refuge in neighboring countries such as India and Bangladesh (Human Rights Watch, 2022). Important figures such as Aug San Su Kyi have been criticized for not taking action on behalf of the Burmese government to stop such genocide in this time period. This shows how governments stand idle as bystanders and have allowed for such playbooks of genocide to unfold and in this case even lead to extermination. If she was to intervene this could have been taken to the global stage and perhaps prevented. When world leaders and governments in the local area intervene genocide can be stopped since they realize that there is a powerful force there to stop them. Therefore, it is necessary for local governments to take a stand and take action in order to combat genocide and solve it.
Governments that intervene and international allies that help out by taking action all help achieve the goal of preventing and solving genocide. The goal is to stop the spread of the hate early which can help stop the genocide. Such early actions are what are crucial in times like these and when these actions are taken by strong figures or organizations, the extremist groups can be stopped in their tracks early before any mass death occurs and the playbook of genocide unfolds.
Works Cited
"Learn About The Holocaust, Antisemitism, And Genocide". Ushmm.Org, 2022, https://www.ushmm.org/learn.
"Home". Stop Genocide Now, 2022, https://stopgenocidenow.org/.
"Amnesty International USA - Human Rights Organization". Amnesty International USA, 2022, https://www.amnestyusa.org/.
"Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide". Hrw.Org, 2022, https://www.hrw.org/.
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