In 1944, the jewish-Polish jurist Raphael Lemkin coined the term genocide in Axis Rule in Occupied Europe, where he described genocide as a colonial phenomenon, in this case German imperialism. Lemkin started writing his manuscript in the 1920’s and 30’s, however, developing his concept of genocide by studying the extermination of native Americans in the United States. From the start, then, the conceptualization of genocide was deeply related to colonialism.

In this evening, we’ll dive deeper into colonial dynamics of genocide, using cases from Banda and Namibia to Palestine and the United States. How are colonialism and genocide related? And how do we see the continued workings of colonialism in genocide remembrance culture and scholarship in the Western world? Join us for a round-table discussion with scholars and journalists.

It is also possible to join this meeting online via a Zoom link. To register for a link, please message asca-fgw@uva.nl.

About the speakers

Dirk Moses is a professor of international relations (CUNY), senior editor of the Journal of Genocide Research and co-editor of the War and Genocide book series for Berghahn Books. He has authored and co-edited numerous books on colonialism & genocide.

Maha Abdallah, Department of Law, Antwerp University. Her research focuses on genocide, settler colonialism and the Palestinian people.

Marjolein van Pagee, author of Banda: De genocide van Jan Pieterszoon Coen.

Chris de Ploeg, co-founder of the decolonial foundation Aralez, program maker decolonial dialogues at UvA, currently writing a book on WW2 & colonial history for Starfish Books.

Draft schedule:
13:30-13:35 Opening words moderator
13:35-13:50 Presentation Dirk Moses, on colonialism & genocide.
13:50-14:05 Presentation Marjolein van Pagee, Banda genocide, colonialism & Islamophobia
14:05-14:20 Presentation Maha Abdallah on Palestine, settler colonialism & genocide
14:20-14:30 Reflection Chris de Ploeg on previous speakers
14:30-15:25 Open panel / Q&A
15:25-15:30 Closing words moderator

About this series of events

Confused about what is happening in Israel and the Palestinian Territories? Want to learn more? Join academics and other experts for the teach-in “History is Not Context, It’s Reality” – On Israel/Palestine. An ongoing interactive lecture series about the political and social reality in the region and how we got here.