10664 Genocide

Credits: 6 intermediate credits in Political Science or in International Relations or in Sociology & Anthropology or in Modern History

Prerequisites: none

Authors: Yair Auron, Alek Epstein, Lydia Aran, Arnon Gutfeld, Eitan Ginsburg, Ariel Horowitz, Israel Charny, Gilad Margalit, Benyamin Neuberger, Hadas Friedman

The overall aim of the course is to impart information about genocide and to develop the student’s ability to analyze it as a historical phenomenon, particularly with respect to cases of mass extermination that took place in the 20th century. One of the specific aims of the course is to raise students’ sensitivity to this aspect of humanity and to encourage them to examine their personal view of the issue. Even when we lack all the answers, we must try to understand why, how and when acts of genocide are perpetrated. Thus, the course examines who is involved in these acts; the immediate, local, regional and international circumstances under which they are committed; and the historical processes, approaches and forces that led to their occurrence. We will also try to understand how political regimes decide, even today, that the way to solve a real or virtual conflict with another group is by eliminating its members.

Topics: Thoughts on the inconceivable: Theoretical aspects of genocide research; Genocide in the “Land of the Free”: Indians in North America – 1776-1890; The Armenian genocide: Forgetting and denial; Nazi Germany and the Gypsies; Rwanda 1994: Genocide in the “Land of a Thousand Hills”; Tibet 1950-2000: Destruction of culture; Political and ethnic cleansing in the Soviet Union, 1918-1953; Destruction: The annihilation of the Jews by Nazi Germany; So as not to be among the silent: Resistance, prevention and rescue; The annihilation of the Indians in South America.