2020/04/08 by Melanie O’Brien · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Global Peace and Security Dynamics #Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics #International Law and Human Rights
paper · doi:10.1163/18754112-0220104010
openalex publication_date 2020/04/08 · openalex created_date 2022/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
This article traces the historical development of the term “genocide” and discusses how it evolved from a post-World War II concept into a key component of international criminal law. Dr. O’Brien outlines some of the legal challenges that attend several of the key terms in the generally accepted definition of genocide: ‘destroy’, ‘in part’, ‘groups’, ‘intent’, and so on. She then concludes with an important and politically nuanced point essential to understanding the politics and afterlife of the Rwanda genocide – the weight of the “g” word.