Introducing the Genocide and Peace Models

Published in the International Association of Genocide Scholars‘s Teaching Brief by Jamie D. Wise in September 2024

When teaching about a social process as complex as genocide, many educators lack useful tools that communicate important ideas in an easily understandable manner while maintaining accuracy and nuance. To help address this issue, I worked with colleagues at The Zekelman Holocaust Center (The HC) to create two graphic models: the Genocide Model and the Peace Model. These are designed as teaching tools for use in classrooms, museum exhibits, and other learning spaces. The models help bridge the gap between genocide scholarship and public education.

Genocide scholars have long acknowledged that genocide is a process rather than a singular event, encompassing many different actions, choices, and behaviors unfolding over time. Some educators have used Dr. Gregory Stanton’s 10 Stages of Genocide or the Anti-Defamation League’s Pyramid of Hate. However, both models give the impression in their designs that genocide is a linear process that unfolds uniformly and predictably.

Creating the Genocide Model

The Genocide Model provides a more nuanced presentation of the complex dynamics that constitute the genocidal process while building on previous models. Rather than a time-based approach, the Genocide Model takes a sociological approach to genocide, looking at both individual agency at the micro-level and structural determinants reflected in collective norms, policies, and institutions at the macro-level.

This model also invites consideration of the interactions and connections between these levels by presenting individual and collective choices side-by-side, indicating that these are not ordered steps to how genocide unfolds, but rather, they are mutually reinforcing decisions that co-produce genocide within society. The model also emphasizes the importance of case-specific and historical context by depicting the common risk factors of genocide.

Creating the Peace Model

Our Peace Model directly parallels the structure and inverts the elements of the Genocide Model to educate about genocide prevention. Together, these models represent two extreme ends on a spectrum that can describe societies at various times. By studying these models, learners can better recognize risk or resilience factors across case studies and identify the attitudes, choices, and actions that can lead towards each outcome. This reinforces the ultimate importance of choices.

Implementing the Models

I created the Genocide and Peace Models at The HC through an iterative research and design process. The models incorporate knowledge in the fields of genocide and peace studies by drawing from relevant theoretical literature and empirical data to support their main ideas, as detailed further below. The design process included eliciting feedback from Holocaust educators, middle and high school teachers, genocide scholars, and visitors to a temporary exhibit with prototypes of the models. The models were included in the renovated core exhibit at The HC that officially opened to the public in January 2024.

When educating with these models, it is helpful to introduce them as conceptual frameworks and then pair them with concrete examples from past or current events. The models can also be used as organizational tools to identify patterns across case studies and extract generalizable knowledge. If you use these models in your classroom or in other educational settings, please share your successes with us.