A Defence of Raphael Lemkin's Definition of Genocide: To What Extent, If at All, Has the Definition of Genocide Developed Since Lemkin's Initial Conception of It?

Abstract

Raphael Lemkin is credited with the neologism of genocide, however since his death the definition has developed as both the occurrence of genocides and international law and politics progressed. As a direct result, appreciation of Lemkin’s work has suffered, with few paying more than lip service to him, looking instead to newer academics such as the writings of Fein, Charny, Chalk and Johansson. While it is obvious that the definition and our understanding of genocide have progressed this author proposes, notwithstanding some basic omissions, that genocide remains largely as was defined by Lemkin in 1933 in the Madrid Conference and in 1945 in Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. It is this initial conception and its relationship to the present definition that this essay will mainly concern itself with, asking to what extent if any the definition of genocide has developed since Lemkin.

Keywords: genocide, Lemkin, Raphael Lemkin, Axis Rule in Occupied Europe, Definition of Genocide, Fein, Chalk, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide