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kastasi's review against another edition
5.0
This book literally changed my worldview. Extremely well written and researched.
pingu23's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
“The real reason the United States did not do what it could and should have done to stop genocide was not a lack of knowledge or influence but a lack of will. Simply put, American leaders did not act because they did not want to. They believed that genocide was wrong, but they were not prepared to invest the military, financial, diplomatic, or domestic political capital needed to stop it. The U.S. policies crafted in response to each case of genocide examined in this book were not the accidental products of neglect. They were concrete choices made by this country's most influential decisionmakers after unspoken and explicit weighing of costs and benefits.”
I really am just in awe and so so angry.
I really am just in awe and so so angry.
kindledspiritsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
You might not be surprised that I found a book about genocide depressing, but it’s not for the reason you think! While obviously Power’s thorough analysis of major genocides in the 20th century, including Armenia, Cambodia, the Holocaust, Srebrenica and many more. While these atrocities are horrifying in themselves (though I did appreciate that Power didn’t dwell too much on gruesome details of torture, instead relying on the emotional accounts of survivors’ trauma to give weight to the horrors they had endured), what I found most dispiriting was the international community’s seeming indifference to the suffering of those beyond their own borders. Although ‘never again’ has been the mantra of most Western governments in the aftermath of the Holocaust, well-documented cases of genocide have been allowed to continue virtually unopposed since then. Focusing on American foreign policy responses, Power analyses why this is the case, exposing the weak arguments that lie at the heart of the case for non-intervention and also presenting her own arguments for why taking a strong stance against genocide is not only the right thing to do morally but is also essential to protecting US interests in the long term. She also explores the origins of the UN Convention on Genocide and the International Criminal Court, shining a light on one of history’s lesser known heroes, Raphael Lemkin, a lawyer and a linguist who coined the term genocide and campaigned relentlessly to have it recognised as a crime under international law. His passion and single-mindedness is astounding and I couldn’t believe I had never heard of him before. He and many other passionate campaigners against atrocity were the bright spots of what could have otherwise been a bleak read. While there are still Lemkins in the world pushing governments to live up to their promises of ‘never again’, there is still hope that genocides can be stopped in their tracks.
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
Not an easy read, due to both the content and the level of detail. But Power convincingly argues that the United States has regularly stood aside when genocides occur, and that the promise to "never forget" is often rhetoric. She covers the Turkish massacre of Armenians, the rise of Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Saddam Hussein's actions against the Kurds, the killings of Tutsis in Rwanda, and - in the most detail - the deaths, rapes, and relocations carried out by Bosnian Serbs. In each case, she outlines what the United States knew, how the government often argued that the killings in question were not genocide, and where action was not taken. It is a sobering look at a frighteningly regular pattern.
A few notes of what stood out to me:
1) Power, in setting out the legal definition of genocide, spends a great deal of time on Rafael Lemkin, who originated the term. I first read about him in [b:East West Street: On the Origins of "Genocide" and "Crimes Against Humanity"|27068666|East West Street On the Origins of "Genocide" and "Crimes Against Humanity"|Philippe Sands|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468087337l/27068666._SX50_.jpg|47111081], but this is a much more detailed account of his work and struggles (which were many).
2) I realized I knew next to nothing of Cambodian history and the Khmer Rouge. Power covers not only what the Khmer Rouge did, but how the isolation of Cambodia at the time made their actions both unknowable and unbelievable.
3) Looking at US foreign policy through the lens of responses to genocide makes for a fascinating read. Warren Christopher, one of Clinton's secretaries of state, comes off looking enormously ineffective when his pragmatism and emphasis on American interests before all leads to prolonged noninvolvement.
4) There's a common trope that genocides occur because of "ethnic tensions" (e.g., the Hutu versus the Tutsi, the ethnicities within the former Yugoslavia, the Kurds versus almost everyone else). But Power clearly argues that genocides occur because people in power amplify those tensions. The killings are not preordained.
A few notes of what stood out to me:
1) Power, in setting out the legal definition of genocide, spends a great deal of time on Rafael Lemkin, who originated the term. I first read about him in [b:East West Street: On the Origins of "Genocide" and "Crimes Against Humanity"|27068666|East West Street On the Origins of "Genocide" and "Crimes Against Humanity"|Philippe Sands|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468087337l/27068666._SX50_.jpg|47111081], but this is a much more detailed account of his work and struggles (which were many).
2) I realized I knew next to nothing of Cambodian history and the Khmer Rouge. Power covers not only what the Khmer Rouge did, but how the isolation of Cambodia at the time made their actions both unknowable and unbelievable.
3) Looking at US foreign policy through the lens of responses to genocide makes for a fascinating read. Warren Christopher, one of Clinton's secretaries of state, comes off looking enormously ineffective when his pragmatism and emphasis on American interests before all leads to prolonged noninvolvement.
4) There's a common trope that genocides occur because of "ethnic tensions" (e.g., the Hutu versus the Tutsi, the ethnicities within the former Yugoslavia, the Kurds versus almost everyone else). But Power clearly argues that genocides occur because people in power amplify those tensions. The killings are not preordained.
avallach's review
4.0
It's well written and very well researched, but the book is clouded by Power's intense campaigning for military intervention in a way that just doesn't align with reality. For how often it gets said, America being 'the world's policeman' is neither something good nor something to strive towards. The amplification of that type of thinking and hubris, especially after the failures of the War on Terror, is just downright dangerous. This is a good read if taken as a historical account of American policy in regards to genocide, but the author's personal opinions are better being ignored.
For what its worth, this was published in 2002. It's possible the author's views have since changed given the actions the United States took these past two decades.
For what its worth, this was published in 2002. It's possible the author's views have since changed given the actions the United States took these past two decades.
patlo's review against another edition
4.0
Ugh. Deep journalism and sledgehammer history. If you want to see America's (lack of) response over and over and over again to genocide across the globe, read this one. It's not easy to read because it's not a pretty picture.
bloodyfool0's review
5.0
What a book! Well researched with detailed information and analysis.
Genocide is a word that we association with the holocaust. We tend to associate it with history and not in the present. There is an unfortunate part of history that we keep repeating. Chamberlain believed in Hitler. Present day leaders in Bush, Clinton and Obama show the same response - a denial of the truth.
The sad thing is that people who were advocates in taking affirmative action were systematically shut down by the authorities. Lemkin, Holbrook and Wes Clark to name a few were heroes and put this "g" word on the forefront and instead of being praised they are not thanked for waking up those n0n-believers. Think of how many lives could have been saved if earlier action was taken.
A brilliant book and there's lots to learn as most of it can't be dealt with on mainstream media. We need more Samantha Power's in the world.
Genocide is a word that we association with the holocaust. We tend to associate it with history and not in the present. There is an unfortunate part of history that we keep repeating. Chamberlain believed in Hitler. Present day leaders in Bush, Clinton and Obama show the same response - a denial of the truth.
The sad thing is that people who were advocates in taking affirmative action were systematically shut down by the authorities. Lemkin, Holbrook and Wes Clark to name a few were heroes and put this "g" word on the forefront and instead of being praised they are not thanked for waking up those n0n-believers. Think of how many lives could have been saved if earlier action was taken.
A brilliant book and there's lots to learn as most of it can't be dealt with on mainstream media. We need more Samantha Power's in the world.
audjmo91's review against another edition
5.0
I have finished the month-long epic that has been my reading of "A Problem From Hell," and I loved it. It also frustrated, depressed, and most importantly, challenged me in ways I hope stay with me for a very long time. My stained, cracked, water-logged, already-used-when-I-bought-it copy has suffered quite a bit, but I think the journey we both took to hell and back was well worth the ride.