Genocide
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Genocide is the grimmest and most relevant of modern tragedies. This stimulating and original work provides the definitive acount of genocide, and is essential reading for all who wish to understand the real meaning of mass murder throughout history. Provides the first narative history of genocide. Highly topical - many recent examples of alleged genocides - Yougoslavia, Rwanda etc. Controversial and provocative - challenges existing views, opinions and statistics, including numbers of victims, and the notion that ethnic cleansing equals genocide. Critically examines and rejects a number of alleged past and recent genocides. Not just 20th century - looks at early mass murders. William D. Rubinstein's explores the meaning and history of genocide and discusses many misconceptions and exaggerations which are in the public consciousness today. Genocide includes a clear and convincing examination of the evolution of genocide and explores the differences between types of genocide throughout history. A sampling of the provocative points discussed include; the misconception that primitive societies were more 'humane' than those of the present day, when in fact they were far more murderous and genocidal, in general, than present society; the exaggeration of the number of victims of genocide; the lack of evidence that Nazis engaged in the genocide of homosexuals, that Europeans deliberately decimated the population of the Americas or that the Belgians killed half the population of the Congo. William D. Rubinstein is at the University of Aberystwyth and has written The Myth of Rescue: Why the Democracies Could Not Have Saved More Jews from the Nazis (Routledge, 1997)
From the Back Cover
Many people believe that we live in an ‘age of genocides'. William
D. Rubinstein provides a unique chronological account of genocide down the
ages, ranging from infamous mass murders directed by Hitlwer, Stalin and Pol Pot through
to slaughters virtually unknown today, such as the Taiping
rebellion in China and the appalling mass killings
in Paraguay during the 1860s.
Challenging existing definitions, opinions, and statistics, Genocide's
gripping historical narrative and original arguments make it thought-provoking
and stimulating read.
Genocide
Genocide,William D Rubinstein,Longman,0582506018,General,History,History - General History,History: American,Violence in Society,World - General,History / General
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