Understanding Genocide
International Relations 10
Understanding Genocide: were we serious when we said “never again”?
Essential Questions



What is Genocide? What ideas, actions and inaction result in a population
experiencing genocide?
How has the United Nations responded to genocide? What factors influence
the international community in responding to genocide?
As the world’s superpower, what role should the United States play in dealing
with genocide?
Our evaluation of the United Nations as an organization suitable for dealing with
conflict was less than positive. Viewing Hotel Rwanda confirmed to us that there are
several political and economic factors at play when the international community
decides if and when it will respond to a case of genocide. This mini unit will help us
understand what genocide is, how it develops and the different options for response
available to nations using a range of historical and modern case studies of genocidal
actions. We will look at a series of case studies using documentaries, talks, and
documents.
Timeline

Monday December 8: Introduction to Genocide; 10 Stages of Genocide;
documents; Ted Talk.
- Homework: Case study reading and note taking

Wednesday December 10: Preparing a short presentation on a given case
study.
- Homework: Complete presentation for next class

Friday December 12: Presentations and discussion; documentary
- Homework: Finish documentary; preparing for Harkness

Tuesday December 16: Harkness discussion: learning from mistakes, what
are our options? What should the US do? What about the UN?
Understanding Genocide
International Relations 10
Monday December 8: What is Genocide? How does it Happen?
Ted Talk: Philip Zimbardo: The psychology of evil
http://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil#t-999584
Questions to consider:
1. What are the 3 sources of the transformation of human character in an act of
evil? How could you apply these to the case studies of genocide we have
already observed?
2. How does the Lucifer Effect explain how the perpetrators of evil succeed in
persuading followers to follow?
3. What processes promote and sustain these evil acts?
Wednesday December 10: Preparing Presentations
1. Read your case study information
2. Answer the following guiding questions:
 What are the background details of your case study (brief history,
location, date, people involved, causes of the onset of genocide etc.)?
 How did the genocide develop? (How) did it follow the 10 stages model?
 What was the role of the Lucifer Effect in your case study?
 What were/are the impacts of the genocide in your case study?
 What has been the role of the UN? The US? Other members of the
international community? NGOs or other organizations/people?
3. In pairs, prepare a short photo-based Pecha Kucha style presentation
(approx. 6 mins) to explain the above answers to the class. There should be
time for about 3 minutes for questions on the Friday.
Suggested Topics:
 The Armenian Genocide
 The Holocaust
 The Cambodian Genocide
 The Bosnian Genocide
Friday December 12: Giving Presentations
 3 x 7 minute presentations plus time for questions (30 minutes)
 Drawing together common themes – discussion (15 minutes)
 Start documentary on Darfur (20 minutes)
Tuesday December 16: Discussion
 How should we intervene in genocide? Who should intervene?
 Group problem solving using scenarios