International | Classifying acts of evil

Naming the unspeakable

Genocide overshadows other crimes against humanity

Lambs to the slaughter

AMONG lawyers and scholars who study conflict, the word “genocide” is sometimes grimly described as the ultimate prize. A judgment that a continuing conflict involves genocide makes intervention more likely. Survivors of a group that has suffered mass slaughter may find a measure of solace when some authority formally acknowledges that what happened was the most heinous of crimes.

This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Naming the unspeakable”

Dynasties

From the April 18th 2015 edition

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