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An insight into genocide

17 September 2008

Associate Professor Mark Baker

Monash academic, Associate Professor Mark Baker has warned that murderous tendencies may be present in all of us.

In his controversial Research Month lecture, Am I a murderer? An insight into genocide, Associate Professor Baker told of the genocide experienced in the Holocaust, Rwanda, Bosnia and the killing fields of Cambodia, asking whether the capacity to commit genocide lies within all of us.

Associate Professor Baker, whose father is a Holocaust survivor, gave a chilling account of the many similarities between the events of politically motivated mass murder throughout history.

"Even to this day on the killing fields you can still feel clothes and bones crunching under your feet like leaves," he said, recounting his own experience of visiting Cambodia.

The lecture also covered the theories that try to make sense of the unnecessary loss of life.

"The 20th century could be known as the "age of genocide"," he said. "War has claimed at least 40 million lives. Genocide has taken almost 200 million."

"Based on the historical research presented this evening, we all have the potential in certain circumstances to be transformed into mass killers," he said.

"We must never forget the past and be vigilant against the signs to avoid this horror from happening in the future."

For more information on Monash Research Month visit the Research Matters website.