How to Recognize the Warning Signs of Genocide

Hate speech

Talks of violence against a group of people is an indicator of genocide. It could be an armed militia group, a faction of the military, or even the government itself. It doesn’t have to be in person—nowadays, a lot of hate speech is found online. While hate speech itself doesn’t indicate a genocide necessarily, it can be a sign of unrest during a regime change or power shift. Hate speech comes in many forms and variations. Usually, it’s the justification or excuse for violence against a group of people because of their race or nationality. Take note of groups that discourage individual thinking in favor of conformity to the group. This can be particularly observable when groups interact online using social media platforms and forums. This is sometimes referred to as “hive mind” thinking.

Displacement

A group of people removed from their homes is a form of violence. Whether they were forced out by a law or by an angry mob, it’s a good indicator that the violence can (and will) escalate. People lose their homes, jobs, and even their lives when they’re displaced from an area, and it’s very hard to come back from. Often, people displaced from their homes don’t have anywhere else to go. They may end up on the street or drifting from town to town. If you see people being displaced near you, the best thing you can do is offer your home to them (if you feel safe doing so).

Reduced freedom of movement

This is a form of control that can only escalate. If people in a country cannot travel based on their race or nationality, there’s a good chance that violence could be coming. You might see this in the form of a law or increased checkpoints at borders. Freedom of movement can also be split by gender. In some countries, men are allowed to travel freely while women are not.

Passing discriminatory laws

They could discriminate by race, nationality, religion, or gender. If your human rights are being violated by the law, there’s a good chance that violation will escalate in the future. These laws might include: Segregation; separate housing, schools, transport, and eating places. Prohibiting the group’s right to vote. Banning the group’s right to work in certain professions or industries. Requiring passes for travel. Revoking citizenship.

Labeling groups as “enemies”

This tactic is used to divide people in a nation. This alone does not lead to genocide, but it’s a marker of class division and discrimination. If a group of people is labeled as “bad” or “evil” based on their race, nationality, religion, or gender, there could be violence against them on the horizon. This is also a way to dehumanize that group. If you can think of them as the enemy, they’re no longer your friends or neighbors. These groups often only see the ingroup (characterized by the terms “us” or “we”) as right, and the outgroup (characterized by the terms “them” or “others”) as wrong. You can challenge people who talk like this by reminding them of the “other” group’s humanity.

Preparation for mass violence

This can look different depending on who’s doing the preparing. For a branch of the military, it might look like extra training and stockpiling weapons in a central location. For an armed militia or gang, it could look like increased petty violence or conflict with neighboring militias. Whatever the case may be, a group preparing for mass violence is never a good sign. Terrorist and extremist groups may also publish manifestos declaring their plans for mass violence. You can shine a light on preparation for mass violence by alerting the media.

Violence going unpunished

This gives the green light for more violence in the future. When violence against a group is not punished by law, the perpetrators may feel that they can do it again without consequence. This is also an indicator that the legal system may be corrupt, which can lead to genocide being excused in the future. You might see this when a person of power incites or commits violence against another group. The law is usually much more forgiving to those in power than it is to civilians, especially in areas where the threat of genocide is present.

Justifying violence

Leaders may try to say the victims deserved what they got. This could be because they are evil, they’re different, or they’re not from around here. Violence against anyone is never okay, and justifying it (even small acts of violence) can lead to bigger threats in the future. This also plays into the “us vs. them” mentality. It’s another way to dehumanize a group of people so others don’t feel sorry for them. Listen closely for the powerless groups being described or referred to as animals, vermin, or diseases. This language is often used as a justification for violence.

Mass killings

This can be the precursor or the very beginning of a genocide. Property and possessions may be seized, and the victims might be relocated to camps or ghettos. After that, massacres and killings may happen sporadically, either because of a perceived offense or just because of nationality, race, or religion. Leaders may describe mass killings as “extermination” as a further way to dehumanize their victims.

Political instability

This could be internal conflict, or it could be a shift of power. This is especially true if the regime shift changes to a radical or authoritarian government. Shaky leadership means that anyone (with enough violence behind them) can step in and take power, which can lead to genocide. This may also look like an uprising, a revolution, or a coup. The current political leaders may be more willing to use violence to keep their position of power. Armed groups rising to power is another indicator of political instability, especially if it’s a terrorist or extremist group.

Autocratic regime

If one person rules the government, they make all the decisions. It’s the opposite of democracy—all decision-making and law-passing are left to one single person without the help of anyone else. If this person has any prejudices against a certain group of people, they may call for a genocide. Oftentimes, you see this in a dictatorship. Independent news sources not sponsored or run by the state or the controlling group’s propaganda campaign are either discredited, vilified, boycotted, taken over, or banned outright. If you can’t access unbiased news, it’s a huge red flag.