This unit examines the phenomenon of genocide and mass killing in history. The twentieth century has been called ‘the century of genocide’ but genocidal violence has continued unabated into the new millennium. This unit will ask why genocide takes place and how people come to participate in mass violence. It will focus on case studies of genocide including Armenia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and the elimination of indigenous populations in the Americas and Australia. The unit will study how the field of genocide studies came to be constituted beginning with the writings of Raphael Lemkin in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Students will research the causes of genocide and reflect on models of genocide prevention.
6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
| Organisational Unit | Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation |
| Offered | Caulfield First semester 2013 (Day) Clayton First semester 2013 (Day) |
| Coordinator(s) | Dr Noah Shenker |
Outcomes
- To understand the origins of the concept of genocide and the epistemological issues concerning its usage.
- To be familiar with the writings of Raphael Lemkin and other contemporary theoreticians of genocide
- To understand how the field of genocide studies came to be constituted as an academic discipline
- To be familiar with the historical details of specific cases of genocide from the nineteenth century to the present
- To engage with debates about the uniqueness of the Holocaust and its relationship with the concept of genocide
- To be familiar with the kinds of archives that enable researchers to study the phenomenon of genocide
- To appreciate the development of the international discourse around human rights and genocide prevention
- To understand how oral history and testimony can aid our understanding of genocide
Assessment
Testimony project(1000 words): 20%
Tutorial participation: 10%
Written research(2000 words): 40%
Written exam(1500words): 30%
Chief examiner(s)
Contact hours
3 contact hours on-campus
This unit applies to the following area(s) of study
History(List C)
Jewish Civilisation
Prerequisites
One sequence in history or permission of the lecturer
