Genocide intent is hard to demonstrate under anonymous structural forces

Evidence

Similar problems emerge with the concept of “intent.” Lemkin (1944:79) stated that the term he coined was intended “to signify a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves.” The UN Convention also stressed intent in its definition. Nevertheless, Wallimann and Dobkowski (1987:xvi) argue that intentionality is currently hard to demonstrate, given “the anonymous and amorphous structural forces that dictate the character of our world.” — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 262

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the structural-vs-agency debate in genocide scholarship, echoing discussion of structural forces elsewhere in racial/ethnic studies literature. — connects to: Genocide differs from ethnic cleansing in requiring intent to destroy the group — Erin K. Jenne and Promise Frank Ejiofor, Ethnopopulism and genocidal…, 82; Genocide always requires organized state or militia planning