Sociology of Genocide

Question 1

What is sociology?

Answer 1

It is the examination of social and cultural life in human society, in both the past and present. They look at the first world.

Question 2

Where does the word sociology come from?

Answer 2

Socio meaning society.

Question 3

What is Anthropology?

Answer 3

The study of what it means to be human and human development. Looks more at third world societies.

Question 4

What is modernity?

Answer 4

The idea of things taking place in ‘modern’ times (a social construct) so that we can keep track of time.

Question 5

What is quantitative vs qualitative in terms of genocide?

Answer 5

Quantitative is the measurement of quantity (how often genocide occurs) while qualitative is measuring quality (how destructive genocide is)

Question 6

Why is genocide argued as a modern phenomenon?

Answer 6

4 connections to modernity to argue this is nationalism (extreme devotion to nation), scientific racism, modern technological complexity, and bureaucratic (government with no elected representatives making decisions) rationalization (replace normal traditions values and emotions). Our world has an increased ability to mass murder efficiently.

Question 7

Why is genocide argued as not a modern phenomenon?

Answer 7

Because regardless of the scale it occurs at, it is still genocide with intent. If there’s an ingroup and an out-group, genocide can happen. War is a great link to genocide and isn’t a modern phenomenon. In the Rwanda genocide they used tools and guns, show it wasn’t technological.