First Marking Period Holocaust and Genocide

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate on whether genetics (nature) or environment (nurture) plays a greater role in shaping behavior and development.

Universe of Obligation

The societal and moral boundaries that define who is considered worthy of protection and support during times of crisis, often influencing responses to humanitarian issues.

• Cultural norms

• Economic conditions

• Politic ideology

Stereotype

A widely held but oversimplified belief or idea about a particular group of people, often leading to generalizations that can be harmful.

Prejudice

A preconceived opinion or judgment about an individual or group, often based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or religion, leading to discrimination and bias.

Discrimination

The unfair treatment of individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, or religion, often resulting in social exclusion and inequality.

Racism

A belief that one race is superior to another, leading to discrimination and prejudice against people based on their race or ethnicity.

Rafael Lemkin

A Polish-Jewish lawyer who coined the term 'genocide' in 1944, advocating for the prevention and punishment of such crimes.

United Nations Convention

An international treaty established in 1948 to prevent and punish the crime of genocide, defining genocide and outlining obligations for member states.

Genocide

The deliberate and systematic extermination of a particular group of people, often based on ethnicity, nationality, or religion.

Crimes Against Humanity

A category of international law that refers to widespread or systematic attacks against civilians, including murder, enslavement, and torture, regardless of nationality or ethnicity.

R. J. Rummel

A political scientist known for his work on democide, the study of government-sponsored mass killings.

Democide

The murder of any person or people by a government, including genocide, politicide, and mass murder.

Low - Tech Genocide

A form of genocide that uses less sophisticated methods, such as starvation, forced displacement, and neglect, rather than advanced technology or weaponry.

High - Tech Genocide

A form of genocide that utilizes advanced technology and weaponry, including chemical and biological agents, to systematically eliminate a population.

Atrocities

Acts of extreme cruelty or violence, often committed during conflicts or genocides, resulting in significant suffering and loss of life.

Uniqueness vs. Universality

A debate in genocide studies regarding whether each genocide is a unique event with specific characteristics or if they share common features that allow for generalizations across different cases.

• What makes the genocide/victims the same as other genocides/victims?

• What makes the genocide different from other genocides/victims?

The holocaust was unique because of the method. The victims were unique because they were all different groups targeted by the Nazi party.

Functionalism vs. Intentionalism

A debate in genocide studies concerning whether genocides are primarily driven by the intentions of specific leaders (intentionalism) or by broader structural factors and societal conditions (functionalism).

• Functionalism: The methods used for killing evolved over time, experimenting with several methods.

• Intentionalism: The idea was intented from the start.
  

• Ex: Hiter wrote Mein Kampf which laid out his plan to kill jews

Primary Source

An original document or artifact created during the time under study, providing firsthand evidence of historical events.

Secondary Source

A work that interprets, analyzes, or summarizes primary sources, often created after the event and providing context or commentary.

SHOAH

A Hebrew term meaning "catastrophe," used to refer to the Holocaust, the systematic extermination of six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime during World War II.

Holocaust

The genocide of approximately six million Jews and millions of others, orchestrated by the Nazi regime from 1941 to 1945 during World War II.

Totalitarianism

A political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

• Ex: USSR under Stalin, Fascist Italy

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms, where individual liberties are subordinate to the authority of the state.

• Ex: China, Cuba, Iran

Dictatorship

A form of government in which a single leader or party holds absolute power, often without democratic processes or constitutional limits.

• Ex: North Korea, Syria, Venezuela

Oligarchy

A political system in which power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of individuals or families, often distinguished by wealth, nobility, or military control.

• Ex: Russia, Great Britain, USA ?

Communism

A political and economic ideology advocating for a classless society in which all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs.

• Ex: USSR, Vietnam, China, Laos, North Korea

Fascism

A far-right authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, extreme nationalism, and suppression of opposition.

Socialism

A political and economic system where the means of production are owned or regulated by the community as a whole, aiming for economic equality and social welfare.

• Ex: Denmark, Finland, Ireland, etc

Anti-Semitism

The prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews, often manifesting in social, political, or economic hostility.

Euphemisms

Words or phrases used to soften or obscure harsh realities, often employed in political or sensitive contexts.

Religious Anti-Semitism

A form of prejudice against Jews that is rooted in religious beliefs and stereotypes, often portraying Judaism as a threat or evil.

Nationalistic Anti-Semitism

A form of anti-Semitism that arises from nationalist ideologies, often depicting Jews as outsiders or enemies of the nation, leading to exclusion and persecution.

Scientific Anti-Semitism

A form of anti-Semitism that uses pseudoscientific theories and ideas to justify prejudice against Jews, often claiming racial superiority or inferiority.