Genocide – A Definition: Raphael Lemkin in his own words

New conceptions require new terms.  By “genocide” we mean the destruction of a nation or an ethnic group.  This new word, coined by the author to denote an old practice in its modern development, is made from the ancient Greek word genos (race, tribe) and the Latin cide (killing), thus corresponding in its formation to such words as tyrannicide, homicide, infanticide, etc.  Generally speaking, genocide does not necessarily mean the immediate destruction of a nation, except when accomplished by mass killings of all members of a nation.  It is intended rather to signify a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves.  The objectives of such a plan would be 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 individuals belonging to such groups.  Genocide is directed against the national group as an entity, and the actions involved are directed against individuals, not in their individual capacity, but as members of a national group.

The following illustration will suffice.  The confiscation of property of nationals of an occupied area on the ground that they have left the country may be considered simply as a deprivation of their individual property rights.  However, if the confiscations are ordered against individuals solely because they are Pole, Jews, or Czechs, then the same confiscations tend in effect to weaken the national entities of which these persons are members.

Genocide has two phases: one, destruction of the national pattern of the oppressed group; the other, the imposition of the national pattern of the oppressor.  This imposition, in turn, may be made upon the oppressed population which is allowed to remain, or upon the territory alone, after removal of the population and the colonization of the area by the oppressor’s own nationals.  Denationalization was the word used in the past to describe the destruction of a national patter.  The author believes, however, that this word is inadequate because: (1) it does not connote the destruction of the biological structure; (2) in connoting the destruction of one national patter, it does not connote the imposition of the national pattern of the oppressor; and (3) denationalization is used by some authors to mean only deprivation of citizenship.[1]

Raphael Lemkin, Axis Rule in Occupied Europe (1944)

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[1] Raphael Lemkin, Axis Rule in Occupied Europe: Laws of Occupation, Analysis of Government, Proposals for Redress, 2^nd edition (Clark, New Jersey:  The Lawbook Exchange Ltd., 2008), pp. 79, 80. Note: Lemkin adds that genocide can also be carried out by “Racial Discrimination in Feeding.” (See p. 87).