Genocide is known as ‘the crime of crimes’. This course gives students an understanding of the history of genocide in the modern world from the early twentieth century to the present. Students explore the origins of the concept and its definition in humanitarian law (the UN Convention). The course compares several case studies to examine various themes: the changing face of genocide; motivation of perpetrators; moral dilemmas of victims and bystanders; the link with war and ideology; and how intervention, prevention and punishment challenge the international community. Students engage with many primary sources and interdisciplinary debates in a rich scholarship.