Genocide Studies: Cases of Slow Genocide in the 21st Century

Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, president, U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island provides opening remarks during a Pearl Harbor Day evening lecture held at NWC.
Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, president, U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island provides opening remarks during a Pearl Harbor Day evening lecture held at NWC. The lecture was provided by Hill Goodspeed, a historian and artifact collection manager at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. He is also an adjunct professor of Strategy and Policy in NWC’s distance education program. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jess Lewis/Released)

About this Event

Event Information

Wednesday, December 19, 2018
12:30 p.m.
Mahan Hall, U.S. Naval War College, 686 Cushing Road, Newport, RI 02841

Prof. Hayat Alvi, associate professor, NSA Department

This event is for Naval War College students, faculty and staff.

The U.S. Naval War College will present its first Genocide Studies conference examining both past failures to prevent genocide and current evidence of slow genocide.

In the post-WWII and the Holocaust era, the global community proclaimed “Never again!” to the possibility of future genocides or attempts at genocide. Yet we have witnessed multiple examples of it to include examples in Cambodia, Guatemala and East Timor.

Today, in the 21st century, we see evidence of slow genocide where extended wars and conflicts, including civil wars, use calculated and systematic processes that attempt gradual genocide, ethnic cleansing and/or crimes against humanity. We see current examples in Syria’s civil war, the conflicts in Yemen, the Central African Republic, and Myanmar (Burma) among others. We also include cases of gender-based genocide in China, India and other countries. The systematic use of starvation and other depletion of resources, access to health care, or humanitarian assistance that target specific communities and groups are also methods of slow genocide. Since we study and analyze wars and conflicts at the U.S. Naval War College, the concept of slow genocide is not only highly pertinent but also extremely important in terms of ethical standards in the modern era.

At this conference we will bring together scholars who specialize in the topic of genocide studies where thoughtful discussions and analyses will occur. Despite the convictions of the global community in the post-WWII era, genocide still takes place and continues to be used as a tool of war in the 21st century. Specific discussion topics will be thought provoking and lead to further discussion and analyses about genocide prevention and military interventions to protect civilians from atrocities and genocide.

Mrs. Ruth Oppenheim, Kristallnacht Survivor, Honored Guest Speaker

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Panel participants:

Prof. Eric Reeves, Smith College

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Prof. Azeem Ibrahim, U.S. Army War College

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U.S. Army Col. (Ret) David Cotter

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Prof. Don Thieme

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