Ringvorlesung Sozialanthropologie, HS25
The Question of Genocide
The lecture series “The Question of Genocide” interrogates the concept of genocide through interdisciplinary perspectives. Beginning with the genealogy of the term itself, the series explores how the concept of genocide has been defined in law, theorized, denied, instrumentalized, and remembered. Drawing on insights from different disciplines, the series reflects on the historical and structural conditions that produce genocidal violence, and the power dynamics that underpin its recognition and denial. It discusses the limits and possibilities of the legal term in relation to political struggles and societal recognition. “The Question of Genocide” aims to provide an open space for a critical reflection on the epistemological, ethical, and political stakes of naming and confronting genocide in the 21st century.