Zur Kriminologie des Genozids – Handlungsmuster und Erklärungsansätze

The study sheds light on the recurring patterns and causes of genocide. This was achieved through analyses of judgements of eight trials of 25 defendants before international criminal tribunals. Across all genocides examined, the factors of threat scenarios, authorization, and dehumanization stand out. It is a characteristic of genocide that the dominant population - usually the majority - in society feels threatened by the genocidal victims. In this context, genocide is used as a "threat defense". Both the threat association and the degree of threat are reinforced by referring to the otherness of the victim group, according to which it cannot by nature do otherwise than attack the dominant population.