1. World History/Geography Thursday May 12th 2016
- What is genocide?
- Where has it occurred?

2. The eight stages of genocide*

3. What are the eight stages of genocide?
Classification
Symbolization
Dehumanization
Organization
Polarization
Preparation
Extermination
Denial *

4. Stage One: CLASSIFICATION
Insert Photo Here *

5. Stage One: CLASSIFICATION
Everyday, we speak in terms of “us” and “them.” Our team and their team. Americans and Iraqis. Christians and Muslims.
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. *

6. 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? *

7. Stage Two: SYMBOLIZATION*

8. 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, such as the color of their skin or physical features.
Again, this stage is one that does not necessarily lead to genocide. *

9. Stage Two: SYMBOLIZATION
ON YOUR PAPER: Do groups you identified for stage one have symbols that allow them – or others – to tell them apart? If so, what are they? ! *

10. Stage Three: DEHUMANIZATION*

11. Stage Three: DEHUMANIZATION
One group denies the humanity of the other group. Members of that group are compared with rodents, insects, and even diseases.
If this stage takes hold, it becomes more difficult to stop the progression of genocide. *

12. 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? *

13. Stage Four: ORGANIZATION*

14. 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. *

15. Stage Four: ORGANIZATION
ON YOUR PAPER: What specifics would have to be worked out by the initiators of a genocide? *

16. Stage Five: POLARIZATION
Polarization is collective behavior that forces people to take sides on issues and eliminates the middle ground. *

17. 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.
The deliberate spreading of information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. *

18. Stage Five: POLARIZATION
ON YOUR PAPER: Have you ever seen a piece of propaganda intended to polarize (divide) groups? If you have, please describe it. If you have not, please try to imagine what it might look like. *

19. Stage Six: PREPARATION*

20. 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. *

21. 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? *

22. 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. ! *

23. *

24. *

25. 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. *

26. 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… *

27. Stage Eight: DENIAL *

28. 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. *

29. 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? *

30. Exit
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?