SYMPOSIUM TO FOCUS ON UNDERSTUDIED GENOCIDES
Newsroom, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
April 10 2013
UNL's Harris Center for Judaic Studies will present "Forgotten
Genocides: New Perspectives on a Less Known History" on April 10 in
the Nebraska Union Auditorium, 14th and R streets.
The symposium welcomes eight scholars to discuss new perspectives and
information on some of the lesser-known genocides and mass atrocities
of the 20th century. The goal of the symposium is to add to the broader
discussion regarding understudied genocides, which may foster more
communication and greater understanding among different disciplines
and specialists.
David Forsythe, professor emeritus of political science at UNL,
will give the opening lecture. He will discuss the well-developed
body of international law prohibiting atrocities and actions that
may be taken to oppose genocide, crimes against humanity, and war
crimes. Forsythe will speak about how these norms are implemented by
states that calculate various costs based on their self-interest.
"Even at the United Nations, it is states that take the key decisions
and decide -- or not -- to loan power to that organization,"
Forsythe said. "So norms and standards have changed a great deal,
but calculations of national self-interest, not so much. The result
is great inconsistency in responding to atrocities, as per Libya
and Syria."
Two panels follow the lecture. The schedule of events is:
9-10 a.m.: Opening Remarks by Jean Cahan, director of the Harris
Center for Judaic Studies, followed by Forsythe's opening lecture.
10 a.m.-noon: Talks by the following UNL scholars: Suping Lu,
professor of libraries, "Unearthing the Nanjing Massacre through
American Diplomatic Channel"; Gerald Steinacher, assistant professor
of history, "Mussolini in Africa: Italy's War of Aggression against
Ethiopia, 1935-41"; and Bedross Der Matossian, assistant professor of
history, "Revisiting the Debate about the Concentration Camps during
the Armenian Genocide."
2-4 p.m.: Talks by the following scholars: Hannibal Travis, associate
professor of law at Florida International University, "Not Yet
Forgotten: Genocide in Darfur and Sudan's Peripheral States"; Patrice
McMahon, associate professor of political science and global studies
at UNL, "Reconciliation after War and Genocide in Bosnia"; and Chantal
Kalisa, associate professor of modern languages and literatures at UNL,
"We Are Rwandan: Performing Trauma and Memory Transnationally."
The symposium is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by
the Harris Center for Judaic Studies, with additional support from
the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Program and the Department
of History.
-- Deann Gayman, University Communications
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/q42
http://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/todayatunl/2268/12812
Newsroom, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
April 10 2013
UNL's Harris Center for Judaic Studies will present "Forgotten
Genocides: New Perspectives on a Less Known History" on April 10 in
the Nebraska Union Auditorium, 14th and R streets.
The symposium welcomes eight scholars to discuss new perspectives and
information on some of the lesser-known genocides and mass atrocities
of the 20th century. The goal of the symposium is to add to the broader
discussion regarding understudied genocides, which may foster more
communication and greater understanding among different disciplines
and specialists.
David Forsythe, professor emeritus of political science at UNL,
will give the opening lecture. He will discuss the well-developed
body of international law prohibiting atrocities and actions that
may be taken to oppose genocide, crimes against humanity, and war
crimes. Forsythe will speak about how these norms are implemented by
states that calculate various costs based on their self-interest.
"Even at the United Nations, it is states that take the key decisions
and decide -- or not -- to loan power to that organization,"
Forsythe said. "So norms and standards have changed a great deal,
but calculations of national self-interest, not so much. The result
is great inconsistency in responding to atrocities, as per Libya
and Syria."
Two panels follow the lecture. The schedule of events is:
9-10 a.m.: Opening Remarks by Jean Cahan, director of the Harris
Center for Judaic Studies, followed by Forsythe's opening lecture.
10 a.m.-noon: Talks by the following UNL scholars: Suping Lu,
professor of libraries, "Unearthing the Nanjing Massacre through
American Diplomatic Channel"; Gerald Steinacher, assistant professor
of history, "Mussolini in Africa: Italy's War of Aggression against
Ethiopia, 1935-41"; and Bedross Der Matossian, assistant professor of
history, "Revisiting the Debate about the Concentration Camps during
the Armenian Genocide."
2-4 p.m.: Talks by the following scholars: Hannibal Travis, associate
professor of law at Florida International University, "Not Yet
Forgotten: Genocide in Darfur and Sudan's Peripheral States"; Patrice
McMahon, associate professor of political science and global studies
at UNL, "Reconciliation after War and Genocide in Bosnia"; and Chantal
Kalisa, associate professor of modern languages and literatures at UNL,
"We Are Rwandan: Performing Trauma and Memory Transnationally."
The symposium is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by
the Harris Center for Judaic Studies, with additional support from
the Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Program and the Department
of History.
-- Deann Gayman, University Communications
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/q42
http://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/todayatunl/2268/12812