Understanding the cases of genocide

The Convention must be interpreted in good faith, in accordance with the ordinary meaning of its terms, in their context, and in the light of its object and purpose. Rummel created the term democide to include assaults on political groups.

Moreover, the sources, the dynamics, and the consequences of genocide become clearer in light of comparison with other genocides. Kiernan, and after him Mark Levenewho has authored four impressive volumes on the history of genocide, make the case that the history of genocide can and should be broken down into general periods that reflect the stages of the development of state and society over the centuries.

The number of individuals targeted should be evaluated not only in absolute terms, but also in relation to the overall size of the entire group. Moreover, the text of the Convention should be interpreted in such a way that a reason and a meaning can be attributed to every word.

It is certainly the case that the word has the kind of resonance that makes many victim groups anxious to use the appellation as a way to underline their own suffering. The objectives of such a plan would be the disintegration of the political and social institutions, of culture, language, national feelings, religion, and the economic existence of national groups, and the destruction of the personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and even the lives of the individuals belonging to such groups.

The exclusion of political groups was in fact originally promoted by a non-governmental organization, the World Jewish Congressand it corresponded to Raphael Lemkin's vision of the nature of the crime of genocide.

Article II of the Convention defines genocide as