How to Prevent Genocide: A Guide for Policymakers, Scholars, and the Concerned Citizen

Genocide--the deliberate destruction, usually through mass murder, of an ethnic, racial or religious group--is the ultimate crime against humanity. Drawing upon a wide variety of disciplines, this study assesses ways to prevent this crime. While most books about genocide focus on the history of a particular event, such as the Holocaust, or compare case studies to derive empirical theories, this book outlines many practical aspects of genocide prevention. Heidenrich covers a broad spectrum of expert opinions, from Stanley Hoffmann to Henry Kissinger, as well as political opinions regarding genocide that range from Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton. Topics include international law, humanitarian intervention, early warning measures, and the effectiveness of such methods as diplomacy, economic pressure, and nonviolent resistance. Preventing genocide in a tense socio-political environment is no easy task, but such prevention is easier and more cost-effective than trying to put an end to genocide once it is already occurring.

Review :
"In the vast literature on ethnic and religious massacres, Heiderich's book is distinguished both by its sense of moral urgency and by the realism of its evaluation of what can be done to prevent genocide. He has no illusions about the obstacles, yet he presents a convincing set of proposals for early warnings, non-violent pressures, and an international legion of volunteers. This is a strong and moving call for awareness, concern, and action."-Stanley Hoffman Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor Harvard University "John Heidenrich has written a well-informed, and more importantly, a spiritually uplifting survey of what can be done about the scourge of genocide. If at times he comes close to the borderline of naivete about the ugly evil forces of genocidal mass murder in our world, for most decent people--policy makers and the other concerned readers--he is refreshing and rebuilds our hopes for a better world civilization. Coming at a time when the world community is giving signs of a new level of readiness to intervene politically, militarily, and with legal action, John Heidenrich's work may help to inspire, inform, and educate those who want to take action against genocide."-Prof. Israel W. Charny, Ph.D. Editor and Chief, Encyclopedia of Genocide Executive Director, Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem "Only a person of John Heidenrich's special combination of military knowledge, academic qualifications and experiences could have written this insightful primer with its practical analysis of the challenges and solutions to the problems of preventing and combating genocide in the 21st century. If you want to know where we lost our way, read this book. If you want a compass to guide you out of the wilderness, here it is. Concerned citizens and political leaders everywhere should read this guide to fighting and winning the battle against genocide and mass atrocities."-Professor Frank Chalk History Department, Concordia University Co-Director, Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies ?The widest possible audience should read this very interesting and thought-provoking book....Highly recommended at all levels.?-Choice ?This is an important book that should be read by those concerned about genocide and mass murder.?-H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences "The widest possible audience should read this very interesting and thought-provoking book....Highly recommended at all levels."-Choice "This is an important book that should be read by those concerned about genocide and mass murder."-H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences