Genocide: A Normative Account

LarryMayexaminesthenormativeandconceptualproblemsconcerningthecrimeofgenocide.Genocidearisesoutoftheworstofhorrors.Legally,however,theuniquecharacterofgenocideisreducedtoatechnicalrequirement,thattheperpetrator'sactmanifestanintentiontodestroyaprotectedgroup.Fromthisdefinition,manypuzzlesarise.Howaregroupstobeidentifiedandwhyareonlyfourgroupssubjecttogenocide?Whatistheharmofdestroyingagroupandwhyisthisharmthoughttobeindependentofkillingmanypeople?Howcanapersoninthedock,asanindividual,beresponsibleforacollectivecrimelikegenocide?Howshouldweunderstandthespecificcrimesassociatedwithgenocide,especiallyinstigation,incitement,andcomplicity?PayingspecialattentiontotherecentcaselawconcerningtheRwandagenocide,Mayoffersthefirstphilosophicalexplorationofthecrimeofgenocideininternationalcriminallaw.