Is ‘Genocide’ an Anachronistic Concept for the Study of Early Modern Mass Killing?
Ben Kiernan
Abstract Is it anachronistic to apply the term ‘genocide’, coined in 1943, ancient or early modern mass killings, even those that might fit mid‐twentieth‐ century definition? Historians must analyse actions and events of pre‐modern era context cultural stipulations discussed at time, knowledge paradigms then available. To assess people's by standards understood era, is important determine whether a understanding concept genocide existed. Long before term, earlier terms such as ‘general massacre’ conveyed similar meanings, along with four much older, related – holocaust, extermination, crimes against humanity, war which also concepts involved. This essay traces historical lineage usage European transnational contexts, argues conceptions long pre‐dated coining term. Genocide did occur times, though was neither normal practice nor universally permitted often provoked dissent. The concludes grasp its moral implications preceded both our word for 1950 legal codification an international crime. critiques common misunderstandings definition: refers crime's effect rather than perpetrator's intent; too broad historians use; only state can commit genocide; involve participation entire ethnic group; be complete, not partial.
History