Final Solutions

Mass Killing and Genocide in the 20th Century

Nonfiction, History, Modern, 20th Century, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Final Solutions by Benjamin A. Valentino, Cornell University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Benjamin A. Valentino ISBN: 9780801467165
Publisher: Cornell University Press Publication: January 19, 2013
Imprint: Cornell University Press Language: English
Author: Benjamin A. Valentino
ISBN: 9780801467165
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Publication: January 19, 2013
Imprint: Cornell University Press
Language: English

Benjamin A. Valentino finds that ethnic hatreds or discrimination, undemocratic systems of government, and dysfunctions in society play a much smaller role in mass killing and genocide than is commonly assumed. He shows that the impetus for mass killing usually originates from a relatively small group of powerful leaders and is often carried out without the active support of broader society. Mass killing, in his view, is a brutal political or military strategy designed to accomplish leaders' most important objectives, counter threats to their power, and solve their most difficult problems.

In order to capture the full scope of mass killing during the twentieth century, Valentino does not limit his analysis to violence directed against ethnic groups, or to the attempt to destroy victim groups as such, as do most previous studies of genocide. Rather, he defines mass killing broadly as the intentional killing of a massive number of noncombatants, using the criteria of 50,000 or more deaths within five years as a quantitative standard.

Final Solutions focuses on three types of mass killing: communist mass killings like the ones carried out in the Soviet Union, China, and Cambodia; ethnic genocides as in Armenia, Nazi Germany, and Rwanda; and "counter-guerrilla" campaigns including the brutal civil war in Guatemala and the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Valentino closes the book by arguing that attempts to prevent mass killing should focus on disarming and removing from power the leaders and small groups responsible for instigating and organizing the killing.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Benjamin A. Valentino finds that ethnic hatreds or discrimination, undemocratic systems of government, and dysfunctions in society play a much smaller role in mass killing and genocide than is commonly assumed. He shows that the impetus for mass killing usually originates from a relatively small group of powerful leaders and is often carried out without the active support of broader society. Mass killing, in his view, is a brutal political or military strategy designed to accomplish leaders' most important objectives, counter threats to their power, and solve their most difficult problems.

In order to capture the full scope of mass killing during the twentieth century, Valentino does not limit his analysis to violence directed against ethnic groups, or to the attempt to destroy victim groups as such, as do most previous studies of genocide. Rather, he defines mass killing broadly as the intentional killing of a massive number of noncombatants, using the criteria of 50,000 or more deaths within five years as a quantitative standard.

Final Solutions focuses on three types of mass killing: communist mass killings like the ones carried out in the Soviet Union, China, and Cambodia; ethnic genocides as in Armenia, Nazi Germany, and Rwanda; and "counter-guerrilla" campaigns including the brutal civil war in Guatemala and the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Valentino closes the book by arguing that attempts to prevent mass killing should focus on disarming and removing from power the leaders and small groups responsible for instigating and organizing the killing.

More books from Cornell University Press

Cover of the book Making Virtual Worlds by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Undoing Work, Rethinking Community by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Taming Cannibals by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Earth by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book The Total Work of Art in European Modernism by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book How Russia Really Works by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Taming the Wild Field by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Love's Wounds by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Between Two Motherlands by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book The French Idea of History by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book A Moral Technology by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Trafficking Justice by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book Solidarity Transformed by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book The Wisdom to Doubt by Benjamin A. Valentino
Cover of the book History and Its Limits by Benjamin A. Valentino
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy