Transcript Genocide - Princeton High School

Pre-Writing Activity
With someone sitting next to you, discuss the
following questions:
- What is genocide?
- Where has it occurred?
Record your and your partner’s answers on a sheet of
paper that you will turn in at the end of the period.
Genocide
The eight stages of genocide, as defined by
Gregory H. Stanton, President, Genocide Watch
Source:
http://www.genocidewatch.org/genocide/8stagesofgenocide.html
© 1998 Gregory H. Stanton. Originally presented as a briefing paper at the US
State Department in 1996.
What are the eight stages of genocide?
Classification
Symbolization
Dehumanization
Organization
Polarization
Preparation
Extermination
Denial
Stage One: CLASSIFICATION
Insert Photo Here
Stage One: CLASSIFICATION
Everyday, we speak in terms of “us” and “them.” Our team and their
team. Americans and Iraqis. Christians and Muslims. Straights
and gays.
This is the first stage of genocide, though it does not mean that every
society in which classification occurs will have a genocide. The
more “bi-polar” the society is, the more likely a genocide will arise.
The more separate the two groups are – physically and
ideologically – , the more likely that one will attempt to
exterminate the other.
Stage One: CLASSIFICATION
ON YOUR PAPER: Think of one way in
which we separate people in our culture.
Do you think this is likely to lead to a
genocide? Why or why not?
Stage Two: SYMBOLIZATION
Stage Two: SYMBOLIZATION
Once groups are classified, they typically adopt symbols so that they
can be distinguished from each other – either of their own
volition to establish their identity or by force so that the dominant
group can easily identify them.
In some cases – particularly where race or ethnicity is concerned –
symbolization occurs even before classification, as the symbols
that suggest they belong with a certain group are innate, such as
the color of their skin or physical features.
Again, this stage is one that does not necessarily lead to genocide.
Stage Two: SYMBOLIZATION
ON YOUR PAPER: Do groups you identified
for the last stage have symbols that allow
them – or others – to tell them apart? If so,
what are they?
!
Stage Three: DEHUMANIZATION
Stage Three: DEHUMANIZATION
One group denies the humanity of the other
group. Members of that group are equated
with rodents, insects, other vermin, and even
diseases.
If this stage takes hold, it becomes more
difficult to stop the progression of genocide.
Stage Three: DEHUMANIZATION
ON YOUR PAPER: Why is it necessary for a
dominant power to dehumanize the victims
of a genocide? Why would it be impossible
for a genocide to accomplish its goal
without this stage?
Stage Four: ORGANIZATION
Stage Four: ORGANIZATION
In order for the final stages of genocide to take place, organization
must occur. The group that organizes in preparation is typically
part of the state due to the amount of financial support required.
It can, however, be a terrorist group; because of the amount of
organization required, though, any group that successfully
organizes a genocide is usually sanctioned - at least to some
extent - by a state.
To a certain extent, you should think of this stage as the proverbial
“calm before the storm.” The roots of the final stages are
beginning to take hold, but very little is actually being done to the
victimized group yet.
Stage Four: ORGANIZATION
ON YOUR PAPER: What specifics would
have to be worked out by the enactors of a
genocide?
Stage Five: POLARIZATION
“Go where you wanted me to go,
you evil spirit.”
Stage Five: POLARIZATION
During this stage, the groups are driven even further apart
ideologically. Hate groups begin broadcasting propaganda
with greater frequency, and laws typically are enacted to
forbid any sort of relations between the two groups.
At this stage, it is not just the victimized group that suffers.
Any “sympathizers” or moderates are either threatened or
attacked by the dominant, oppressing group.
Stage Five: POLARIZATION
ON YOUR PAPER: Have you ever seen a
piece of propaganda intended to polarize
groups? If you have, please describe it. If
you have not, please try to imagine what it
might look like.
Stage Six: PREPARATION
Stage Six: PREPARATION
Whereas in the previous stage the victimized group was separated
ideologically from the dominant group, in this stage the
victimized group is separated physically from the rest of the
society.
The victimized group or groups are gathered together, either in
ghettoes or concentration camps. At times, they are even forced
into a famine-struck area and starved, beginning the seventh stage
of genocide.
At this stage, the world typically becomes aware of what is going
on, whether they actually step in or not.
Stage Six: PREPARATION
ON YOUR PAPER: Assuming that at this stage,
the world cannot help but notice that the
victimized group is being forced from their
homes in preparation to be slaughtered, why
wouldn’t this be the stage where every genocide
ends?
This is not a rhetorical question.
Stage Seven: EXTERMINATION
The following slides show pictures of dead bodies.
They are meant to be disturbing.
If you do not want to look at these images, please do
not.
!
Stage Seven: EXTERMINATION
This is the stage where this process legally
becomes genocide. Mass killings occur
quickly and systematically. When genocide
is sponsored by the state, as it almost
always is, the armed forces typically work
with well-organized militias to exterminate
the victims.
Stage Seven: EXTERMINATION
ON YOUR PAPER: What previous stage or stages
allow(s) extermination to happen so quickly? If
you think that the answer is “all of them,” please
identify which stage or stages most enable the
rapidity of the execution.
The following image is perhaps the most disturbing
of all. Please do look and consider why…
Stage Eight: DENIAL
Stage Eight: DENIAL
If intervention does not occur during the seventh stage of genocide,
denial always follows extermination. Mass graves are dug up and
bodies are burned; the evidence that the genocide ever occurred is
systematically eradicated. Witnesses are bribed, intimidated, or
killed.
Investigations into the crimes are blocked by the government that
committed the atrocities.
Typically, the victims of the genocide are blamed for their fates if
their disappearance is brought up.
Stage Eight: DENIAL
ON YOUR PAPER: Think about the psychological
factors that would contribute to the effectiveness
of the denial. How could someone who
witnessed or took part in a genocide come to
believe that a genocide had not occurred?
Homework
ON YOUR PAPER: How has your understanding of
genocide changed during this class period?
Assuming that I did not show you this to make you
uncomfortable or sicken you, why did I share these
stages and these images of genocide with you?
Please write roughly half of a page.
You will turn this in at the beginning of class
tomorrow for two informal writing grades.
You can find the information in this presentation
at www.genocidewatch.org/8stages.htm. This
website also contains suggestions about how to
stop genocide at each of the stages.
Thank you to Ms. Volz, formerly of Princeton High School’s
History department, for this resource.
Images taken from http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/sturmer.htm and various
sources found through Google Images.
Presentation created by Mr. Levandowski for use at Princeton High School.