US Stand toward Genocides:

Abstract

The twentieth century witnessed horrific crimes that ended millions of innocent lives. What differentiates these atrocities from other kinds is the element of intent. This kind of crimes came to be known as “genocide.” In 1948, the UN adopted a new treaty called the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide which aims to deter and punish perpetrators of such heinous act. The USA as a superpower and one of the first countries that signed the new treaty, took a controversial stand toward genocide. The dissertation explores and analyzes America’s implemented foreign policy in this matter. In a detailed way, the work also evaluates the US response to three cases of genocide. The first case is that of Native Americans in which the concerned country has always been accused of having committed genocide. The second case regards the Armenians who were the victims of the Ottoman Empire’s policies. The third case deals with the US rival, Russia that planned to kill Ukrainians through mass starvation in the period of 1932-1933. Yet, the major case study of this research project is Bosnia in which thousands of innocent people perished as a result of Serbian heavy attacks and inhumane practices against isolated civilians. The research work concludes that the USA failed in its political reaction and practical response toward these atrocities as it prioritized its own economic and political interests over humanitarian concerns.