Steven L. Jacobs, Lemkin on Genocide (Lexington Books, 2012)
It\u2019s hard to overestimate the role of Raphael Lemkin in calling the world\u2019s attention to the crime of genocide.\xa0 But for decades his name languished, as scholars and the broader public devoted their time and attention to other people and other things.\n\nIn the past few years, this has changed. We now have a greater understanding of\xa0Lemkin\u2019s\xa0role in pushing the UN to write and pass\xa0the Convention on the Prevention and\xa0Punishment of Genocide.\xa0\xa0Moreover,\xa0researchers have a newfound appreciation for\xa0the depth and insights of his research.\xa0 Genocide scholars talk about their field experiencing a \u2018return to Lemkin.\u2019\n\nIt seems an appropriate time, then to reexamine Lemkin\u2019s ideas and career.\xa0 We\u2019ll do so in a special two-part series of interviews with scholars who have edited and published Lemkin\u2019s writings.\xa0 Later this month, I\u2019ll post an interview with Donna Lee Frieze, who has meticulously edited Lemkin\u2019s unpublished autobiography, Totally Unofficial.\n\nFirst, however, I\u2019ll talk with Steven L. Jacobs.\xa0 Steve recently published a carefully edited and annotated edition of Lemkin\u2019s writings about the history and nature of genocide, simply titled Lemkin on Genocide\xa0(Lexington Books, 2012).\xa0 This work was written during the 1940s, but never published.\xa0 Through it, we gain a new appreciation for the depth of Lemkin\u2019s theoretical understanding and the breadth of his research.\xa0\xa0In addition, reading\xa0Jacob\u2019s book\xa0provides us\xa0a richer sense of how Lemkin fit into the ideological currents of his time.\xa0 In editing this work, Steve has done a great service to all those interested in genocide.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\nSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/genocide-studies