
What is Genocide?
Martin Shaw(Author)
Polity Press
2nd Edition
Published on 24. April 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
232 pages
978-0-7456-8707-0 (ISBN)
Description
This fully revised edition of Martin Shaw's classic, award-winning text proposes a way through the intellectual confusion surrounding genocide. In a thorough account of the idea's history, Shaw considers its origins and development and its relationships to concepts like ethnic cleansing and politicide. Offering a radical critique of the existing literature on genocide, he argues that what distinguishes genocide from more legitimate warfare is that the 'enemies' targeted are groups and individuals of a civilian character. He vividly illustrates his argument with a wide range of historical examples - from the Holocaust to Rwanda and Palestine to Yugoslavia - and shows how the question 'What is genocide?' matters politically whenever populations are threatened by violence.
The second edition of this compelling book will continue to spark interest and vigorous debate, appealing to students and scholars across the social sciences and in international law.
Reviews / Votes
In this second edition of his wonderful book, Shaw shows that definitions matter in explaining genocide. Incorporating recent work he gives a highly-intelligent view of genocide, broadly defined as in Raphael Lemkin?s original coining of the term. If you want to read a general work on genocide and ethnic cleansing, this should be your first choice. Michael Mann, University of California, Los Angeles The first edition of What is Genocide? rightly became an instant classic. The second edition adds depth on Raphael Lemkin, the notion of genocidal massacre and the structural dimensions of genocide. It is essential reading for teaching and thinking about this troubling subject. Dirk Moses, European University InstituteMore details
Edition
2. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
395 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7456-8707-0 (9780745687070)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions


Previous edition

Book
01/2007
Polity Press
€42.31
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Martin Shaw is a historical sociologist of global politics, war and genocide and the author War and Genocide and Genocide and International Relations. He is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at Sussex University and Research Professor at the Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals.
Content
Preface to the Second Edition
1 Introduction: The Importance of Definition
PART I: THE GENOCIDE IDEA
2 Raphael Lemkin and the Idea of Genocide
3 The Concept after Lemkin
4 The Holocaust Standard
5 The 'Cleansing' Euphemism
6 The Many 'Cides' of Genocide
PART II: AGENCY AND STRUCTURE IN GENOCIDE
7 From Intentionality to a Structural Concept
8 The Structure of Genocide: Conflict and War
9 Actors and Process in Genocidal Conflict
10 Structural Contexts: Explaining Modern Genocide
11 Conclusion: New Definitions
Index