Genocide: A History

Rubinstein, William, Genocide: A History (Harlow: Pearson Longman, 2004), pp.vii+322 RAE2008

William D. Rubinstein's explores the meaning and history of genocide and discusses many misconceptions and exaggerations which are in the public consciousness today. Genocideincludes a clear and convincing examination of the evolution of genocide and explores the differences between types of genocide throughout history. A sampling of the provocative points discussed include; the misconception that primitive societies were more 'humane' than those of the present day, when in fact they were far more murderous and genocidal, in general, than present society; the exaggeration of the number of victims of genocide; the lack of evidence that Nazis engaged in the genocide of homosexuals, that Europeans deliberately decimated the population of the Americas or that the Belgians killed half the population of the Congo.