Modern Genocide

April 15, 2015
Selectivity and depth guide case studies of 10 genocides fitting the UN definition and spanning the first decade of the last century (the Herero genocide) to the first decade of this century (the Darfur genocide). As the recent ISIS massacre of Yazidis demonstrates, these works will, alas, need updating. Analysis of each horrific episode includes an overview; explores causes and consequences; profiles perpetrators, victims, and bystanders; and describes international reaction. Supplemental information includes a time line antedating the atrocity, entries on specific topics and individuals, primary documents (including eyewitness accounts), and a bibliography. A Historical Dilemmas section explores enduring debates over interpretations of events. An appendix of more than 200 pages consists of meaty topical entriesincluding individuals and issuesabout events that fall short of the UN definition. These include Comfort women, Gulags, Rape of Nanking, Tiananmen Square, Wounded Knee, and entries for countries. Oddly, lynching in the U.S. is not included. Additional appendixes present historical documents and a bibliography. There are black-and-white photographs found throughout the four volumes.This work lends itself to disciplinary approaches in law, history, human rights, social psychology, and related fields and is recommended for academic libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)