8 Stages of Genocide

#1 Classification

• Categories to distinguish people into “us and them” by ethnicity, race, religion, or nationality
• For example, German and Jews, Hutsu and Tutsi, and bipolar societies w/out mixed categories

#2 Symbolization

• Give names, distinguish them by colors, or other symbols to members of groups
• Combined with hatred, symbols force members to outcast groups
• Example: Yellow star for Jew under Nazi Rule or blue scarf for Eastern zone of Khmer Rouge Combodia

#3 Dehumanization

• Group denies humanity of another
• Equated with animals, insects, or disease
• Radio and print propaganda
• Victims are not considered human, so murder becomes okay

#4 Organization

• Organized by state or militias
• Trained and armed
• Informal and decentralized (terrorist groups)

#5 Polarization

• Extremists drive groups apart
• Hate groups broadcast polarizing propaganda
• Forbid intermarriage or social interaction
• Moderates, intimidates, and silences the center
• Moderates own group of people that might stop genocide are arrested and killed first

#6 Preparation

• Victims identified and separated out
• Death lists are created
• Wear identifying symbols
• Property is confiscated
• Segregated into ghettos or concentration camps
• Famine-struck region or starved

#7 Extermination

• Begins and quickly becomes the mass killing
• "Extermination" rather than human murder
• State sponsors armed forces and militia to do the killing
• Results in revenge killings by groups against each other

#8 Denial

• Perpetrators dig mass graves, burn bodies, cover up evidence, and intimidate witnesses
• Deny the crimes and blame the victims
• Block crime investigations
• Govern until driven from power by force
• Response is punishment by an international tribunal or national courts

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