On the Nature of Genocidal Intent by Jason J. Campbell

Author:Jason J. Campbell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: undefined
Publisher: undefined
Published: 2012-03-16T16:00:00+00:00

The “sign” that Kissi is referring to is a means of identifying a distinction, which carries with it the difference from those in power, so as to exclude “them” from “us” despite the fact, however, that Khmer were targeting fellow Khmer. Thus, the basis for their extermination was one of ideological differences, which means that their extermination was one based on mutable identifiers, since they could have conceivably changed their ideological stance.

The necessity of wearing a blue scarf is of even greater importance because those targeted for extermination were Khmer. As evident in Kissi’s example, the process of identification may be entirely ad hoc, but its function will always be to identify those to be “cleansed” from the population.[10] The use of genocide in this example is a contingent condition based on the ideological refusal of some Khmer to assimilate to the Khmer Rouge’s state endorsed ideology. Thus, this ideological refusal led to their eventual extermination. In this example, Kissi is describing the targeting of those Khmer, by fellow Khmer, for extermination based on their refusal to conform with state ideology. Therefore, the subsequent act of genocide was itself based on mutable identifiers that were not changed to conform with state ideology.

As we have seen, genocide based on immutable identifiers is the most heinous manner of reducing the diversity within state demography because these identifiers cannot be changed by members of the population. There is, however, as demonstrated in Kissi’s example of Khmer targeting fellow Khmer, the ability to base genocide on mutable identifiers, if one defines political affiliation as such. This in no sense suggests that there are better or worse forms of genocide. What it does demonstrate, however, is that unlike genocide based on mutable identifiers, where members of the population are given a choice to conform with state ideology and save their lives, members of the population bearing immutable identifiers have no choice and face either mass exile or extermination. In my articulation of domestic diversity, then, I am specifically discussing the attempt to remove any number of demographic identifiers from the population by means of coercion, exile or extermination. This decrease in both ethnic and ideological diversity is accomplished by an abuse of state authority within its domestic jurisdiction. Thus, the process of converting a former civilian into an enemy of the state is as easy as identifying or aligning all members of the population bearing those demographic identifiers as enemies of the state. The final solution, then, is to purge or exterminate all members of the population bearing these identifiers. Nevertheless, through the process of a reduction in domestic diversity, the state eliminates those demographic identifiers from its demography and its domestic jurisdiction, which it deems unworthy of inclusion.

By asserting, “the formation of exclusionary ideology” I am referring to (1) a state endorsed ideology that makes specific references to demographic identifiers represented within its population. The state (2) further associates these attributes (i.e., the particular demographic identifiers) as potentially corrupting the remaining members of the population within state jurisdiction.

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