Genocide
A Normative Account

Larry May examines the normative and conceptual problems concerning the crime of genocide.

Larry May (Author)

9780521122962, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 February 2010

296 pages
15.3 x 22.9 x 1.4 cm, 0.4 kg

"The central difficulties in the law of genocide are not, of course, one of May's making, and his book deserves credit for carefully revealing both the necessity of a normative justification and the complex nature of that project."
-Alexander K.A. Greenawalt,Pace University School of Law

Larry May examines the normative and conceptual problems concerning the crime of genocide. Genocide arises out of the worst of horrors. Legally, however, the unique character of genocide is reduced to a technical requirement, that the perpetrator's act manifest an intention to destroy a protected group. From this definition, many puzzles arise. How are groups to be identified and why are only four groups subject to genocide? What is the harm of destroying a group and why is this harm thought to be independent of killing many people? How can a person in the dock, as an individual, be responsible for a collective crime like genocide? How should we understand the specific crimes associated with genocide, especially instigation, incitement, and complicity? Paying special attention to the recent case law concerning the Rwanda genocide, May offers the first philosophical exploration of the crime of genocide in international criminal law.

1. Introduction: problems of genocide
Part I. The Nature of Value of Groups: 2. Nominalism and the constituents of social groups
3. Identifying groups in genocide cases
Part II. The Harm of Genocide: 4. Harm to a group itself
5. Harms to identity of a group's members
Part III. Elements of Genocide: 6. Destroying groups in whole or in part
7. Collective and individual intent
8. Motive and destruction of a group 'as such'
Part IV. Responsibility for Genocide: 9. Complicity and the Rwandan genocide
10. Incitement to genocide and the Rwandan media case
11. Instigating, planning, and intending genocide in Rwanda
Part V. Special Problems of Genocide: 12. Genocide and humanitarian intervention
13. Reconciliation, criminal trials, and genocide.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Social & political philosophy [HPS]