Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Historic and Geographic Patterns of Genocide

The topic of this interdisciplinary research is historical and geographical patterns of genocide since the 19^th century. The research question for this topic is what are the historical and geographical patterns of genocide since the 19^th century? The disciplines that are being used are history and geography. The reason for these two disciplines is because the historical perspective can unveil the causality of why genocides occur at the time that they do and historical context of genocides; and the geographical perspective shows the spatial relevance of two conflict groups and how other concepts of geography can help reveal why these two conflict groups have genocidal tendencies. The historical and geographical patterns of genocide can be shown and eradicated by correcting ethnical, racial, religious, and cultural tensions/differences, imperialistic and colonialist ideologies of genocide, territorial conflicts, the mindset of a group to perform genocidal actions, and ineffective international laws on genocide. Genocide is an important topic to research because since the 19^th century there have been 46 genocides that have occurred, most of which were committed in the 20^th century. The majority of modern history has been plagued with these atrocities that has led to the death of over 30 million people of various different cultures, racial and religious groups, and ethnicities. These death tolls from genocide are not based on the highest estimated death toll, but the lowest estimate of those who have died from genocidal actions. Genocide is a practice that needs to be studied so that it can be eradicated in the future.