Paper Summary:

The paper describes how the rebel forces in Sierra Leone carried out some of the most barbaric war crimes in history. The paper attempts to determine if this conflict reflects the definition of genocide set forth by the Genocide Convention. The paper looks at Professor R. Hrair Dekmejian's preconditions to genocide, and focuses on two preconditions known as "Crisis Milieu" and "Pathological Leadership". The paper explains how they played an integral role in this crisis. The paper then then shows how there are many factors that contribute to the existence of genocide and it remains unclear whether this conflict truly reflects the definition of genocide. The paper suggests that perhaps the definition of genocide needs to be updated to reflect the changing dynamics of war and violence.

From the Paper:

"Before understanding what genocide is however, one must understand the preconditions that can promote such a situation. As stated in Spectrum of Terror, written by Professor R. Hrair Dekmejian, "an overview of twentieth century genocides points to nine preconditions", and in the case of Sierr a Leone, two of these preconditions, "Crisis Milieu" and "Pathological Leadership", played an integral role in the crisis.i Fueled by strong opposition to the Sierra Leone government and illegal diamond mining, the RUF and other rebel forces carried out some of the most barbaric war crimes in history."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, http://www.unhchr.
• R. Hrair Dekmejian, Spectrum of Terror, CQ Press, 2007, 210ch/html/menu3/b/p_genoci.htm.
• Krijn Peters, and Paul Richards, "Why We Fight": Voices Of Youth Combatants In Sierra Leone, Africa, Vol. 68, 1998
• Caroline Hawley, A Country Torn By Conflict, BBC News, 1999 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/01/99/sierra_leone/251377.stm.
• Greg Campbell, Blood Diamonds, Amnesty Magazine, http://www.amnestyusa.org/amnestynow/diamonds.html

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