Program Description
The GHRUP 2011 Summer Program will be held in Toronto from August 1 to August 12.
This two-week course, run annually, provides participants with the intellectual framework for understanding the numerous, complex, and often emotional issues related to genocide. An examination of several major case studies of genocide provides the foundation for comparative analysis. The specific case studies and special themes may vary from year to year.
The GHRUP features many world-renowned genocide and human rights scholars and provides a structured forum for analyzing such universal questions relating to human rights and their gross violation as:
- What is genocide and why does it occur?
- What is the relation between genocide and human rights?
- Why does genocide denial occur?
- How can geo-politics affect human rights and lead to genocide?
- What is the experience of genocide for women and children?
- How do Diasporas evolve from genocide?
- What is the role of the U.N. and other international institutions?
- The genocidal experience: uniqueness vs. universality?
- How can we teach about genocide?
- Why should you study human rights and the prevention of genocide?
Course Objectives
This course aims to help develop a new generation of scholars to pursue research and publication in genocide and human rights. Students will gain an understanding of the following:
- How to define gross violations of human rights and how to predict the conditions by which genocide occurs.
- The social, economic and psychological impact on survivors and their descendants.
- How to help promote reconciliation between perpetrator and victim groups.
- How to help prevent genocide.
Eligibility
Applicants must be current university students with three years or more of undergraduate experience. Please see the page on Admission Criteria for further details.
Recognition of the GHRUP for Credit
Many students have chosen to have their own institution recognize the GHRUP as an independent study for credit. In this case, students have approached a professor at their institution with the syllabus and faculty biographies for approval as a directed reading course. It is imperative to make these arrangements before the course rather than after the fact.
Graduate Reading Course with Professor Bergen
In addition to participation in the Genocide and Human Rights University Program, graduate students registered at the University of Toronto or at any university in Ontario may request to enroll in a graduate-level directed reading course in History with Professor Doris Bergen. Students who fulfill the requirements will receive a half-year-course credit (translated as three credits at some institutions). Permission needs to be obtained and arrangements made with Professor Bergen in advance of the GHRUP. Students from Ontario universities other than U of T, please note that the paperwork for receiving credits through the Ontario Visiting Graduate Student (OVGS) program needs to be initiated at your home institution.
Course Length
2 weeks, 6.5 hours/day x 5 days a week
32.5 hours per week x 2 weeks
65 hours of instruction.
Typical Schedule
Period 1: 9:00 - 10:20 am
Break: 10:20 - 10:30
Period 2: 10:30 - 11:40
Break: 11:40 - 11:50
Period 3: 11:50 - 1:00pm
Lunch: 1:00 - 2:00
Period 4: 2:00 - 3:20
Period 5: 3:30 - 5:00
Course Format
The following key points will be used as a guide for discussion of each case study to help ensure consistency and facilitate comparisons. The current year's syllabus is available on the course website.
- Brief history of the perpetrator and victim groups.
- Causes of the conflict.
- Political and sociological climate before the genocide.
- Early warnings.
- Rationalization for genocide; methods of dehumanization.
- Planning and organization.
- Implementation of the genocide - timeframe, methods, etc.
- International reaction and attempts at intervention (if any).
- Denial.
- Judgment and punishment of perpetrators.
- Short-term aftermath.
- Long-term legacy.