Sources: Modern Genocide: The Definitive Resource and Document Collection

Modern Genocide: The Definitive Resource and Document Collection. Ed. by Paul R. Bartrop and Steven Leonard Jacobs. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2015. 4 vols. Acid free. $415.00. (ISBN: 978-1-61069-363-9) E-Book available (978-1-61069-364-6), call for pricing.

As a term, “genocide” is one of the more recent entrants in the English language lexicon, having gained currency only since World War II and that conflict’s attendant pogroms of the Jewish and other peoples. As a concept and course of action, however, that of a methodical effort to eliminate an entire race or ethnic group, history shows that there have been numerous holocausts stretching back, probably, to the origin of our species. In fact, there have been so many concerted efforts on the part of People A to rid Planet Earth of People B, that the editors have limited the scope of their work to those instances that occurred during the twentieth century, hence the import of “modern” in its title.

Editors Bartrop and Leonard state in the “Introduction” that their purpose in creating yet another reference work on genocide studies—and there have been several other excellent titles of late—is to educate “ . . . a new generation to what has transpired in the century just concluded [so that] we can break this cycle of violence, death, and destruction and move humanity forward positively” (xxxvii). The question of whether education, commendable goal that it is, will act as a deterrent to such baser human instincts as hate and greed, is one for the philosophers to grapple with, as this is beyond the capacity of a mere book reviewer. That being said, the editors and contributors have done a yeoman’s job in laying out the facts regarding mass murder over the last hundred years. The bulk of these four volumes are taken up by ten substantial chapters, each one focusing on a discrete episode of genocide as defined by Article 2 of the United Nations Convention. In alphabetical order, they range from Armenia during World War I to Rwanda in 1994. Each chapter follows a standard format beginning with an overview essay that frames the occurrence in its cultural and historical context. Other aspects examined include “Causes,” “Consequences,” “Perpetrators,” “Victims,” “Bystanders” (witnesses), and “International Reaction.” An interesting and useful feature that this reviewer has not seen in other comparable reference works is a section on “Historical Dilemmas.” An explanatory note indicates that this text is designed to acquaint “students and researchers to debates and controversies in the study of certain genocides and atrocities. It presents a historical question with different perspectives on the issue” (131), such as “Why is the Armenian genocide not known as well as some other major genocides?” (131). More conventional, though important, features include sections on primary source documents, a bibliography and encyclopedia style A-Z signed articles.

The “Contributors” page indicates a crew well versed in their subject matter. Co-Editor Paul Bartrop holds a PhD earned at Monash University, located in Melbourne, Australia. He currently serves as Director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University; he is widely recognized as a leading thinker and writer in his field. The other Co-Editor, Steven Jacobs, holds a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and is now Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Alabama. Both men have had numerous books published regarding various aspects of genocide studies. They were ably assisted in this most recent endeavor by a lengthy list of librarians, academics and other researchers.

As alluded to earlier, this area of inquiry has generated a fair amount of scholarly attention. A mere sampling of recent titles include Israel W. Charny’s Encyclopedia of Genocide (two volumes, ABC-CLIO, 2000); Alexander Mikaberidze’s Atrocities, Massacres, and War Crimes (two volumes, ABC-CLIO, 2013); and Leslie Alan Horvitz/Christopher Catherwood’s Encyclopedia of War Crimes & Genocide, revised edition (2 volumes, Facts on File, 2011). While each are solid sets in their own respective rights, it is the three-volume Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, edited by Dinah Shelton (Macmillan Reference USA, 2004) that comes closest in depth and scope to the title under discussion here. The fact that Shelton’s effort received a starred review in Booklist is evidence of the level of scholarship that went into its creation. Nevertheless, for libraries whose budgets allow for the purchase of only one major work in genocide studies, this reviewer strongly recommends the 2,200+ page, four volume ABC-CLIO set. It is the most current, thoroughly researched, clearly written and informative work on the market today.—Michael F. Bemis, Independent Reference Book Reviewer