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Century of Genocide: Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts
Through powerful first-person accounts, scholarly analysis, and compelling narrative, Century of Genocide details the causes and ramifications of the genocides perpetrated in the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Historical context provides the necessary background on the actors and victims to help us better understand these episodes of atrocious political violence. The third edition has been carefully updated and features new chapters on the genocides in Darfur, in Guatemala, and against indigenous peoples the world over. The volume concludes with a consideration of the methods of prevention and intervention of future genocides.
672 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1997
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391 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Totten
79 books10 followersSamuel Totten is a genocide scholar, Professor of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, a Member of the Council of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem.
Samuel Totten earned a master's degree and a doctoral degree at Teachers College, Columbia University.[2]
In 2004, he served as an investigator on the U.S. State Department's Darfur Atrocities Documentation Project.
In 2005 he became one of the chief co-editors of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal, the official journal of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS).[3]
In 2008 He served as a Fulbright Scholar at the Centre for Conflict Management, National University of Rwanda.
Between 2004 and 2011, he conducted research along the Chad/Darfur, Sudan border into the genocide perpetrated by the Government of Sudan in Darfur. Between 2010 and today he has conducted research into the genocidal actions of the Government of Sudan in the Nuba Mountains in the late 1980s to mid 1990s, and the crimes against humanity being perpetrated today (July 2011-ongoing through at least June 2012)
During the 2009-2010 academic year Totten served as the Ida King Distinguished Visiting Professor of Holocaust and Education at the Richard stockton College of New Jersey.
In 2011, Totten was honored by Teachers College, Columbia University with The Teachers College Distinguished Alumni Award of 2011.
In December 2012-January 2013, Totten traveled throughout the war torn Nuba Mountains as he conducted research into both the genocide by attrition experienced by the people of the Nuba Mountains in the 1990s and the ongoing crisis today (June 2011-present). While there, Government of Sudan Antonov bombers dropped 55 bombs on civilian areas, resulting in deaths and grievous injuries.
Source: Wikipedia
Samuel Totten earned a master's degree and a doctoral degree at Teachers College, Columbia University.[2]
In 2004, he served as an investigator on the U.S. State Department's Darfur Atrocities Documentation Project.
In 2005 he became one of the chief co-editors of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal, the official journal of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS).[3]
In 2008 He served as a Fulbright Scholar at the Centre for Conflict Management, National University of Rwanda.
Between 2004 and 2011, he conducted research along the Chad/Darfur, Sudan border into the genocide perpetrated by the Government of Sudan in Darfur. Between 2010 and today he has conducted research into the genocidal actions of the Government of Sudan in the Nuba Mountains in the late 1980s to mid 1990s, and the crimes against humanity being perpetrated today (July 2011-ongoing through at least June 2012)
During the 2009-2010 academic year Totten served as the Ida King Distinguished Visiting Professor of Holocaust and Education at the Richard stockton College of New Jersey.
In 2011, Totten was honored by Teachers College, Columbia University with The Teachers College Distinguished Alumni Award of 2011.
In December 2012-January 2013, Totten traveled throughout the war torn Nuba Mountains as he conducted research into both the genocide by attrition experienced by the people of the Nuba Mountains in the 1990s and the ongoing crisis today (June 2011-present). While there, Government of Sudan Antonov bombers dropped 55 bombs on civilian areas, resulting in deaths and grievous injuries.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 18, 2011
This is primarily a collection of eyewitness accounts compiled by various authors. Not originally what I expected, seeing as how this was recommended to me since I had Samantha Power's "The Problem from Hell." To be fair, I find some disagreement with Mrs. Powers in some areas, but I liked her writing style nonetheless.
As for this book, it varies from author to author. The chapters pertaining to the Armenian genocide in 1915 or the Burundi genocide in the 1970's were most informative, since I had limited knowledge on both subjects. I would not call this a "go-to" book for all things relating to each episode of genocide, such as the government policies or social atmosphere that made them possible. Instead it serves as an initial springboard, allowing the reader to become more knowledgeable, so that they may go onward to discover other books more detailed.
With that, I found this enjoyable and (admittedly) fun to read. Not "fun" in accordance to the subject obviously, but war crimes and human rights abuses is a large curiousity of mine, and this book quelled that thirst for knowledge temporarily. If you already have some background with cases like Armenia, the Holocaust, Burundi, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Cambodia, then this might only supplement your knowledge rather than expand upon it. For those who are taking a political science or history course on genocide, this is a decent tool for research. I used it in my "Politics of Genocide" course my senior year of college, and it was most helpful.
As for this book, it varies from author to author. The chapters pertaining to the Armenian genocide in 1915 or the Burundi genocide in the 1970's were most informative, since I had limited knowledge on both subjects. I would not call this a "go-to" book for all things relating to each episode of genocide, such as the government policies or social atmosphere that made them possible. Instead it serves as an initial springboard, allowing the reader to become more knowledgeable, so that they may go onward to discover other books more detailed.
With that, I found this enjoyable and (admittedly) fun to read. Not "fun" in accordance to the subject obviously, but war crimes and human rights abuses is a large curiousity of mine, and this book quelled that thirst for knowledge temporarily. If you already have some background with cases like Armenia, the Holocaust, Burundi, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Cambodia, then this might only supplement your knowledge rather than expand upon it. For those who are taking a political science or history course on genocide, this is a decent tool for research. I used it in my "Politics of Genocide" course my senior year of college, and it was most helpful.
July 10, 2008
If you read one book on genocide, this should be it. It will inform and educate anyone who reads it. The author does an excellent job at detailing the major and minor genocides of the 20th century in a very concise way. I was especially impressed that the author included the genocides of the Hereros, Indonesians, and Burundis in this work.
February 10, 2016
This is so well done! It is used in history classes about 20th century genocides and covers a bunch of them from the Hereros of Southwest Africa to the Armenian genocide to the Holocaust and then on to modern day genocides (think Cambodia, Serbia, Rwanda). In each case, the author clearly arranges the information about who did the genocide and why, who the victims were, how it was done, and firsthand stories. This is a really important and easy to read book I wish everyone would read it.
September 2, 2018
read chapter about the Armenians
December 7, 2018
Century of Genocide: Eyewitness Accounts and Critical Essays by Samuel Totten
When one thinks of genocides throughout history, there are clear and apparent examples that most people know of, such as the Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide. However, history is host to many lesser known genocides, such as the Armenian Genocide during World War One, and the Herero Genocide in German-occupied Southwest Africa. This book provides information, eyewitness accounts, and explanations of several genocides across the 20th century. However, the reader should be warned. While the book is informative, it does not hold back. Readers should be prepared for harrowing and disturbing accounts of some of the darkest moments in history. I’d recommend this book to anyone who is interested in looking into the darker, more sinister side of history.
When one thinks of genocides throughout history, there are clear and apparent examples that most people know of, such as the Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide. However, history is host to many lesser known genocides, such as the Armenian Genocide during World War One, and the Herero Genocide in German-occupied Southwest Africa. This book provides information, eyewitness accounts, and explanations of several genocides across the 20th century. However, the reader should be warned. While the book is informative, it does not hold back. Readers should be prepared for harrowing and disturbing accounts of some of the darkest moments in history. I’d recommend this book to anyone who is interested in looking into the darker, more sinister side of history.
February 5, 2023
Heartbreaking accounts of the human experience of war; to read with a soft heart.
December 17, 2014
I think this is one of the best books I've ever been assigned to read chapters on for a class. A collection of essays written by experts on genocides of the 20th century. Each section describes historical preconditions to the genocide , provides descriptions of who was responsible, who was victimized, and what the outcomes of the genocide was. Some essays are better written than others.
Goes in-depth enough for a class but my own personal research on some of the topics led me even deeper. Then again, if this book were as detailed as history itself, it'd easily be thousands of pages long.
Goes in-depth enough for a class but my own personal research on some of the topics led me even deeper. Then again, if this book were as detailed as history itself, it'd easily be thousands of pages long.
June 15, 2014
Read this for a graduate school class on genocide. So informative yet very difficult to read.
October 18, 2015
I peruse this text once in awhile but I never feel like I get enough of the background to really explain the root causes and ideologies of the instigators, particularly the chapter on Cambodia.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews