Editing Harff Gurr 1988
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== Harff & Gurr. 1988. Research Note: Toward Empirical Theory of Genocides and Politicides: Identification and Measurement of Cases since 1945 == | == Harff & Gurr. 1988. Research Note: Toward Empirical Theory of Genocides and Politicides: Identification and Measurement of Cases since 1945 == | ||
'''Main argument:''' Comparative research on geno- and politicides is needed despite critics who see comparative research on genocides as a universalization of the Holocaust. | '''Main argument:''' Comparative research on geno- and politicides is needed despite critics who see comparative research on genocides as a universalization of the Holocaust. A distinction between genocides and politicides is beneficial. | ||
'''Genocides and politicides:''' | '''Genocides and politicides:''' | ||
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'''Analysis of Table 1:''' | '''Analysis of Table 1:''' | ||
Some episodes (Ingushi, Karachai, Balkars) were able to be fully rehabilitated with autonomous regions reestablished. Other episodes (Meskhetians and Crimean Tatars) took longer to restore, and were never fully reconstituted. These differences depended on long-run policies of a greater power (Soviet state) | |||
The table only includes episodes in which 1) civilians were deliberately killed, 2) the death toll was high, and 3) the campaign was long (lasted at least 6 months). | |||
23/44 cases occurred during or immediately after a civil war or rebellion. Some cases were excluded as a result of falling at or just short of the three guidelines above. | |||
'''Initial Analysis of Characteristics of the Episodes:''' | '''Initial Analysis of Characteristics of the Episodes:''' | ||
Roughly one new episode of genocide/politicide since WWII occur every year. | |||
Although the duration of these episodes are typically ambiguous, a typical episode lasts about five years. The chart shows a bimodal representation: most genocides either last 1-2 years, or 5+ years. Repressive/hegemonial cases tend to be longer lived. | |||
'''Typology of Episodes:''' | '''Typology of Episodes:''' | ||
Hegemonial vs xenophobic genocides: | |||
Difference is motive of ruling groups | |||
Hegemonial: motive is to force a communal group into submission by killing enough members so the remaining populations have no will/capacity to resist | |||
Xenophobic: elimination of communal group | |||
Four types of politicide: | |||
Repressive politicide: ruling groups retaliate against political parties/factions/movements who support the opposition | |||
ex: local militias attempt to destroy political resistance (Madagascar 1947-48, Angola 1961-62) | |||
Currently, the elimination of Communist sympathizers in military regimes (Indonesia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Chile, Argentine) and newly empowered rulers use deadly repression of political/tribal opposition (Macias in Equatorial Guinea, Amin in Uganda, Mobutu in Zaire) | |||
Repressive/hegemonial politicides: similar to repressive politicides, but often coincides with the victim group’s communal identity | |||
Revolutionary mass murder: second-most common type of politicide (after repressive politicide, 10 examples in the data). New regime in power brings about fundamental social/economic/political change, and commits mass murder to eliminate resistance to revolutionary policies | |||
ex: China (Cultural Revolution), Pol Pot regime in Kampuchea | |||
Retributive politicide: least common type of politicide, non-ideological mass murders occur after a subordinate/oppositional group seizes power | |||
ex: Rwandan genocide, | |||
No world region has been free of genocides/politicides in the postwar era | |||
Repressive/hegemonial politicides most common in the Islamic world, revolutionary politicides in Asia, repressive politicides in sub-Saharan Africa | |||
'''Numbers of Victims:''' | '''Numbers of Victims:''' | ||
Number of fatalities in genocides/politicides are rarely known, estimates vary drastically | |||
Genocides/politicides typically cost as many human lives as organized combat | |||
'''Further Research:''' | '''Further Research:''' | ||
Need to complete the search for episodes that meet the above criteria, compile background information on them | |||
Need to make a detailed comparative analysis of coded information on each episode | |||
Objective: further development/testing of theoretical explanations of causes and processes of genocides/politicides, use this database to assess likelihood that current conflicts involving communal minorities are at risk of genocide/politicide |