Genocide — the systematic act of violence aimed at destroying a specific group of people based on their ethnicity, religion or nationality — takes place many times in the wars and civil wars. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, genocide has taken place in many countries in Asia, Africa and other regions that resulted in innumerable deaths and many other negative outcomes, leading to concerns. The Holocaust from 1939 to 1945, the Rwandan genocide in 1994, the Armenian genocide in 1915-23 and the Bangladesh genocide in 1971 are some of the notable genocides. There are also claims of genocide in several wars and civil wars that are going on at present.
It is notable that there are enmity based, deep-rooted grievances oriented and other reasons for genocides. Political power struggles, the intention of the dehumanization of certain groups, historical grievances and ethnic tensions are some of the notable causes of genocides. Additionally, territorial disputes, weak international intervention, systemic discrimination, the desire for territorial expansion and a lack of accountability are responsible for genocides many times. Among others, economic disparities and competition for resources contribute to the perpetration of genocide. Ethnic tension between the Hutu and Tutsi populations, along with several other causes, led to the mass killings of Tutsi people by Hutu extremists in Rwanda in 1994, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people within a span of 100 days.
The vital and pertinent side is whether genocide is necessary for winning wars or civil wars. While some argue that genocide can be an effective tactic in eliminating enemy populations and weakening their resistance that can help achieve victory, others believe that it is never justified, leads to suffering and destruction and is morally reprehensible and ultimately counterproductive in the long run. Moreover, genocides do not necessarily lead to winning the war. Though genocide incurs huge losses for the affected country or community, there are many examples of the defeat of the perpetrators in wars. For example, the perpetrators of the holocaust and Rwandan genocide did not win the wars. Moreover, genocides lead to long-term enmity many times.
International organizations and different countries have taken various steps to address genocides, a brutal manifestation of deep-seated prejudices and systemic injustices, leading to their positive outcomes. International organizations such as the United Nations have established mechanisms like the International Criminal Court to hold perpetrators of genocide accountable. ICC held different powerful individuals accountable for perpetrating genocides. Additionally, different countries have implemented military intervention based and sanction based steps to hold perpetrators accountable. For example, NATO airstrikes helped stop widespread ethnic cleansing and the prevention of genocide in Kosovo in 1998-1999. Among others, early warning systems and conflict prevention strategies are employed by international organizations and governments to prevent genocide before they escalate.
But there are diverse limitations in the steps taken, leading to the ineffectiveness of the global efforts many times. There remains a lack of enforcement mechanisms against genocide and limited resources for prevention efforts. Additionally, putting the importance on geoeconomic, geopolitical or political interests over humanitarian concerns makes the efforts fail to successfully address genocide. It turns out to be difficult to implement the verdict of the International Criminal Court, especially when genocide is carried out by powerful countries. Among others, there is often a lack of coordination and cooperation among different actors against genocide — leading to gaps in addressing causes and effectively responding to mass atrocities.
It is crucial for societies to acknowledge the atrocities and prevent them from happening again and again. Early resolution of wars and civil wars is crucial. International peace negotiations may reduce the chance of genocide many times with successful negotiations. Promoting accountability for perpetrators with international cooperation is also important. Raising awareness through campaigns can help promote tolerance and understanding among different groups, reducing the chance of genocide. But the understanding of warring leaders on the ineffective outcomes of genocide in winning wars and their good intentions are also vital.
