The Genocide Education Project
"Ten stages of Genocide" was a document developed by Dr. Gregory H. Stanton,
a professor at Mary Washington University and the Vice President of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars (2006). Stanton also leads Genocide Watch,
a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against genocide. ("Ten Stages of Genocide,"
presented at the Yale University Center for International and Area Studies in 1998, and
revised in 2013.)
"Ten Stages of Genocide" is a formula for how a society can engage in genocide.
Genocide cannot be committed by an individual or small group, rather, it takes the
cooperation of a large number of people and the state. The geocidal process starts
with prejudice that continues to grow. By knowing the stages of genocide, citizens are
better equipped to identify the warning signs and stop the process from continuing,
The ten stages of genocide are: classification, symbolization, discrimination,
dehumanization, organization, polarization, preparation, persecution,
extermination, and denial
note: there are videos provided below
TEN STAGES OF GENOCIDE
By Gregory H. Stanton
Genocide is a process that develops in ten stages that are predictable, but not
inexorable. At each stage, preventive measures can stop it. The later stages
must be preceded by the earlier stages,
though earlier stages continue to operate throughout the process.
1 CLASSIFICATION:
All cultures have categories to distinguish people into "us and them" by
ethnicity, race, religion, or nationality: German and Jew, Hutu and Tusi. If
societies are too segregated (divided) they are most likely to have genocide.
The main way of preventing genocide at this early stage is to develop opportunities
in a society for people to work and live together who are from different ethnic, social,
national or religious backgrounds. This will allow people to become more
tolerant and understanding of each other. In the United States, public schools
serve this function, as they are places where all young people can go regardless
of their ethnic, social, national or religious backgrounds. This search for common
ground is vital to early prevention of genocide.
2 SYMBOLIZATION:
We give names or other symbols to the classification of ethnicity, race, religion, or
nationality. We name people "Jews" or Gypsies", or distinguish them by color or
dress and apply them to members of groups. Classification and symbolization are
universally human and do not necessarily result in genocide unless they lead to the
stages of dehumanization. When combined with hatred, symbols may be forced
upon unwilling members of minority groups; the yellow star for Jews under Nazi
rule, the blue scarf for people from the Eastern Zone in Khmer Rouge Cambodia.
Sometimes we impose symbols on ourselves like gangs using certain colors. That
is the group's right but sometimes backfires when they are discriminated against.
To combat symbolization, hate symbols can be legally forbidden (swastikas) as
can hate speech. Group marking like gang clothing or tribal scarring can be
outlawed, as well.
The problem is that legal restrictions will fail if unsupported by society. Sometimes
if we outlaw certain names but hate exists new names will just take their place.
If widely supported, however, denial of symbolization can be powerful, as it was
in Bulgaria, when many non-Jews chose to wear the yellow star, depriving it of its
importance as a Nazi symbol for Jews. According to legend in Denmark, the Nazis
did not introduce the yellow star because they knew even the King would wear it.
3. DISCRIMINATION:
A dominant group uses law, custom, and political power to deny the rights of other
groups. The powerless group may not be given full civil rights or even citizenship.
Examples include the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 in Nazi Germany, which stripped Jews
of their German citizenship, and prohibited their employment by the government and by
universities. Prevention against discrimination means full political empowerment and
citizenship rights for all groups in a society. Discrimination on the basis of nationality,
ethnicity, race or religion should be outlawed. Individuals should have the right
to sue the state, corporation, and other individuals if their rights are violated.
4. DEHUMANIZATION:
Dehumanization is when one group treats another group as second-class citizens. Members
of a persecuted group may be compared with animals, parasites, insects or diseases. When
a group of people is thought of as "less than human" it is easier for the group in control to
murder them.
At this stage, hate propaganda in print and on hate radios (social media) is used to make the victims seem like
villains. In fighting this dehumanization, one must remember that there is no right of
"Freedom of speech" to tell people to commit murder. Outlawing hate speech can help save
the lives of those targeted. If a country is on the verge of committing genocide, it is no
longer a democracy (if it was before), and the broad freedom of speech protected in a
democracy may need to be limited in such a country. Hate radio and social media should
be shut down and hate propaganda banned. Hate crimes and atrocities should be promptly
punished.
5. ORGANIZATION:
Genocide is always organized, usually by the state, though sometimes informally or
by terrorist groups. Special army units or militias are often trained and armed. Plans
are made for genocidal killings.
To combat this stage, membership in these militias should be outlawed. Their leaders
should not be allowed to travel outside their country where they may be able to
raise funds or get weapons. The U.N (United Nations) should enforce arms embargoes
on governments and citizens of countries involved in genocidal massacres, and create
commissions to investigate violations, as was done in post-genocide Rwanda.
6. POLARIZATION:
Extremists drive the groups apart. Hate groups broadcast propaganda that reinforces
prejudice and hate. Laws may forbid intermarriage or social interaction between the
groups. Extremist terrorism targets moderates, and intimidates them so that they are
silent. Moderate leaders are those best able to prevent genocide and they are often the
first to be assassinated.
Prevention may mean security protection for moderate leaders or assistance to human
rights groups. Assets (money and property) of extremists may be seized, and opportunities
for international travel denied to them. If extremists try to take over the government, then
the international sanctions should be put in place.
7. PREPARATION:
National or perpetrator groups leaders plan the "Final Solution" to the Jewish, Armenian,
Tutsi or other targeted group "question" They often use euphemisms to cloak their
intentions, such as referring to their goals as "ethnic cleansing," "purification." or
"Counterterrorism." They build armies, buy weapons and train their troops and
militias. They indoctrinate the populace with fear of the victim group. Leaders often
claim, "If we don't kill them, they will kill us." Prevention of preparation may include
arms-embargos and commissions to enforce them. It should include
persecution of incitement and conspiracy to commit genocide, both crimes under
Article 3 of the Genocide Convention.
8. PERSECUTION:
Victims are identified and separated out because of their ethnic or religious identity.
Death lists are drawn up. In state sponsored genocide, members of victim groups may
be forced to wear identifying symbols. Their property is often confiscated. Sometimes
they are even segregated into ghettoes, deported into concentration camps, or confined
to a famine-struck region and starved. Genocidal massacres begin. They are acts of
genocide because they intentionally destroy part of a group. At this stage, a
Genocide Emergency must be declared. If the political will of the great powers, regional
alliances, or the U.N. Security Council can be mobilized, armed international, intervention
should be prepared, or heavy assistance provided to the victim group to prepare for its
self-defense. Humanitarian assistance should be organized by the U.N. and private
relief groups for the inevitable tide of refugees to come.
9. EXTERMINATION:
Extermination begins and quickly becomes the mass killing legally called "genocide."
It is "extermination" to the killers because they do not believe their victims to be fully
human (see dehumanization). When it is sponsored by the government, the armed forces
often work with private armies to do the killing. Sometimes the genocide results in
revenge killings by groups against each other, creating the downward whirlpool-like
cycle of mutual genocide where the victims actually organize and commit a second
genocide on the perpetrators.
At this stage, only rapid and overwhelming armed intervention can stop genocide.
Real safe areas or refuge escape regions should be established with heavily armed
international protection. The U.N. needs troops that can go into genocide areas and
stop the killing when the U.N. Security Council calls it. The U.N. may decide to act
through regional military forces from organizations like NATO. Relief groups should
be prepared to assist the victims.
If the U.N. will not get involved directly, militarily powerful nations should provide
the airlift equipment, and financial means necessary for regional states to intervene
with U.N. authorization.
10. DENIAL
Denial is the tenth stage that always follows genocide. It is among the surest indicators
of further genocidal massacres. The perpetrators of genocide dig up the mass graves,
burn the bodies, try to cover up the evidence and intimidate the witnesses.
cooperation They deny
that they committed any crimes, and often blame what happened on the victims. They
block investigations of the crimes and continue to govern until driven from power by
force, when they flee into exile. Leaders of the genocide continue to deny the crime
unless they are captured and a tribunal (special court) is established to try them.
The best response to denial is punishment by an international tribune or national
courts. There the evidence can be heard, and the perpetrators punished. Tribunals or
international courts must be created. They may not prevent the worst genocidal killers,
but at least some mass murderers may be brought to justice.
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Stories of Genocide Lessons for today
