Studying Genocide: Deficits in Research
While genocide is, tragically, an all-too-common aspect of human history, it has received less scholarly attention than other forces of social conflict. Alexander (2 - 3) suggests that the seeming reluctance by some scholars to address issues related to genocide may be due in part to a poor understanding of what specifically defines a genocidal event or series of events. Alternatively, examining the underpinnings of genocide requires grappling with issues related to racism, prejudice, ethnic hostility, and so forth; these are in themselves challenging matters that at times defy definition. Labeling a conflict an act of genocide further demands that the global community take action to intervene and to protect the victims of such an action. Academics are not necessarily in an ideal position to undertake such a task, and often the research on genocide takes placed after the event, complicating analysis and determination of causal antecedents.
As Alexander (3 - 5) suggests, a major step forward in this area would be using international organizations to clearly identify an event or series of events as genocides. Acknowledging the public and private aspects of these traumas will facilitate analysis of their effects. Refusing to "cover up" or diminish the impact of genocidal events is another step that must be taken to analyze these effects and to take what steps are needed to prevent further outbreaks.
Alexander, J.C. "Toward a Theory of Cultural Trauma. In
Alexander, J.C., Exerman, R., Gieson, B., Smelser, N.J.,
& Sztompka, P. Cultural Trauma and Collective Identity.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004, pp. 1-30.
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