Preventing Mass Atrocities: Policies and Practices (Routledge Studies in Genocide and Crimes against Humanity)

What can be done to warn about and organize political action to prevent genocide and mass atrocities? The international contributors to this volume are either experts or practitioners, often both, who have contributed in substantial ways to analyzing high risk situations, recommending preventive policies and actions, and in several instances helping to organize remedial actions. Whereas current literature on the prevention of genocide is theoretically well grounded, this book explores what can be done, and has been done, in real-world situations. Recommendations and actions are rooted in a generation of experience, based on solid historical, comparative, and empirical research and with a grounding in quantitative methods. This volume examines historical cases to understand the general causes and processes of mass violence and genocide, and engages with ongoing genocidal crises including Darfur and Syria, as well as other forms of related violence such as terrorism and civil conflict. It will be key reading for all students and scholars of genocide, war and conflict studies, human security and security studies in general. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations List of contributors 1. Introduction The dawn of comparative genocide research: Historians/ sociologists/psychologists/political scientists Definitions: Genocide and mass atrocities Differentiating between genocide and mass atrocities and its relevance for prevention The genocide debate, past and present: Re-discovering the wheel Data on victims of geno/politicide The road to explanation: Typologies and hypotheses The uses of risk assessments for prevention Editor’s note References 2. Genocide and mass atrocities: Can they be prevented? Background to genocide Current crises Post-trauma reconstruction Notes PART I: Risk Assessment, Early Warning, and Early Response 3. Countries at risk of genocide and politicide after 2016 – and why An introduction to quantitative analysis of risks of genocidal violence Structural variables and early warning indicators as guides to early action Early warning models The use of risk assessments and early warning models for prevention: Political considerations Countries at risk of new genocides or politicides after 2016 Notes References 4. Atrocity crimes as a disease: A statistical approach to early detection 1. Introduction 2. Risk assessments and early warning of atrocity crimes 3. Early detection in epidemiology 4. Randomness in count data 5. Early detection of systematic atrocity crimes in civil conflicts 6. Conclusions and the way forward Notes References 5. Preventing genocides and mass atrocities: Evidence from conflict analysis Genocides and mass atrocities: How many? How different? Early prevention of genocide and mass atrocities? Evidence from conflict analysis Preventing mass atrocities in ethnopolitical and regional wars Successful international engagement Toward general assessment of risks Notes References PART II: Mobilizing International, Regional, and Local Responses 6. Ending the silence on war crimes: A journalist’s perspective I. From Cold War to hot war in Europe II. The rise of terrorism III. Atrocity crimes in Syria IV. Reviving public interest through innovative journalism Conclusion Notes 7. Preventing mass atrocities at the local level: Using village committees for conflict prevention in Mauritania Introduction General risk factors for identity-based conflict in Mauritania Preventing identity-based conflict at the local level The creation of village community committees Establishment of representative village community committees Preliminary conclusions Notes 8. In the absence of will: Could genocide in Darfur have been halted or mitigated? The situation in 2017 Explaining continuing inaction Notes 9. Atrocity prevention from Obama to Trump Highlights of the APB announcement Earlier attempts Greater uncertainty A proposal Serious hurdles Stumbling over Syria, South Sudan, and CAR Squaring the circle Step by step Recommendation 1: Organize annual off-site meetings Recommendation 2: Alert country missions Recommendation 3: Initiate horizontal and vertical dialogues Recommendation 4: Carry out conflict/atrocity assessment Recommendation 5: Seek out like-minded allies Recommendation 6: Create country task forces Looking ahead Eyes on the White House Notes 10. Prevention through political agreements: The community of Sant’Egidio and the Central African Republic Involvement of the Community of Sant’Egidio Notes References 11. An African regional perspective on prevention: Experiences from the Great Lakes region Introduction Prevention as a practice Prevention of genocide and mass atrocities in the Great Lakes region The ICGLR genocide and mass atrocity prevention mechanism Implementation of the ICGLR protocol Collective responsibility and learning Challenges Opportunities Notes 12. Roots of ambivalence: The United Nations, genocide, and mass atrocity prevention Introduction Founding ambivalence Adaptability The long road from words to deeds Open questions and continuing challenges Notes 13. Who is in charge?: Emerging national and regional strategies for prevention From neglect to commitment Doctrinal and operational shifts in the praxis Emergence of GAAMAC Ways forward Notes 14. Guidelines for prevention of genocides and other mass atrocities: An overview Foreknowledge Organizing preventive action Prevention in Africa: Examples Global Action Against Mass Atrocities Crimes (GAAMAC) A final comment Note Index "What can be done, in practice, to warn about and organize political action to prevent genocide and political mass murder, and to respond to it after they have begun? All the contributors to this volume are either experts or practitioners, often both, who have contributed in substantial ways to analyzing high risk situations, recommending preventive politics and actions, and in several instances helping to organize remedial actions. Whereas current literature often focuses on the theory of the prevention of genocide, this book focuses on what can be done, and has been done, in real-world situations. Unlike some existing works of advocacy, recommendations and actions are grounded in a generation of experience, based on solid historical, comparative, and empirical research and with a grounding in quantitative methods. The volume examines historical cases to understand the general causes and process of mass violence and genocide and also engages with on-going genocidal crises including Darfur and Syria, as well as other forms of related violence such as terrorism and civil conflict. This work will be key reading for all students and scholars of genocide, war and conflict studies, human security and security studies in general. "--Provided by publisher "What can be done, in practice, to warn about and organize political action to prevent genocide and mass atrocities, and to respond to them after they have begun? All the contributors to this volume are either experts or practitioners, often both, who have contributed in substantial ways to analyzing high risk situations, recommending preventive politics and actions, and in several instances helping to organize remedial actions. Whereas current literature often focuses on the theory of the prevention of genocide, this book explores what can be done, and has been done, in real-world situations. Unlike some existing works of advocacy, recommendations and actions are grounded in a generation of experience, based on solid historical, comparative, and empirical research and with a grounding in quantitative methods. The volume examines historical cases to understand the general causes and processes of mass violence and genocide, and engages with on-going genocidal crises including Darfur and Syria, as well as other forms of related violence such as terrorism and civil conflict."--Provided by publisher