ATS2057 · Genocide

Overview

In this unit you will examine the phenomenon of genocide and mass killing in history. The twentieth century has been called 'the century of genocide' but genocidal violence has continued unabated into the new millennium. In this unit you will explore why genocide takes place and how people come to participate in mass violence. It will focus on case studies of genocide including Armenia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and the elimination of indigenous populations in the Americas and Australia. You will study how the field of genocide studies came to be constituted beginning with the writings of Raphael Lemkin in the aftermath of the Holocaust. You will research the causes of genocide and reflect on models of genocide prevention.

Areas of study: Holocaust and genocide studies Human rights and social justice Jewish studies

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. analyse the origins of the concept of genocide and the social, analytical and ethical issues concerning its usage, including debates about the uniqueness of the Holocaust and its relationship with the concept of genocide;
2. examine foundational and contemporary theories of genocide, and the development of genocide studies and international discourse around human rights and genocide prevention;
3. interpret and contextualise the historical details of specific cases of genocide from the nineteenth century to the present;
4. critically discuss the role played by archives, oral history and testimony in the study and understanding of genocide;
5. communicate critical academic arguments supported by primary and secondary sources relevant to the study of genocide.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.