Raphael Lemkin and the Struggle for the Genocide Convention

Now published for the first time in paperback, this is the first comprehensive biography of Raphael Lemkin (1900-59), the man who invented the word genocide and campaigned relentlessly for the United Nations Genocide Convention. Utilising Lemkin's own papers as well as other sources, it contextualises his career, showing how his ideas were formed in the midst of ethnic strife in Eastern Europe and as a member of the international law circuit. The book focuses on the campaign for a convention orchestrated by Lemkin, dealing both with its supporters and enemies, particularly the British government. While Lemkin drew attention to the need to preserve diverse cultures, both in his campaigning and his historical writing, the Western powers amended the convention, so that it became an instrument solely for preventing physical genocide. The book also covers Lemkin's historical research on genocide, presenting a number of studies, particularly of colonial genocide.

This book is the first complete biography of Raphael Lemkin, the father of the United Nations Genocide Convention, based on his papers; and shows how his campaign for an international treaty succeeded. In addition, the book covers Lemkin's inauguration of the historical study of past genocides.

John Cooper studied History at Balliol College, Oxford, UK, and was in private legal practice until his retirement. His publications include Eat and be Satisfied: A Social History of Jewish Food and Pride Versus Prejudice: Jewish Doctors and Lawyers in England, 1890-1990.

Introduction
1. Formative Years in Poland
2. Escape from Poland
3. Early Years in the United States
4. The Publication of his Master Work and the Nuremberg Trial
5. The United Nations Resolution on Genocide
6. 1947, the First Draft of the Convention
7. Private Life
8. Yale and Geneva
9. Paris, Preliminary Discussion of the Convention
10. The First Reading of the Convention
11. The Convention is Adopted
12. The International Campaign for Ratification of the Convention
13. The United States Senate and the Convention
14. The Genocide Convention: its Supporters and Enemies
15. The History of Genocide
16. The History of Genocide: Case Studies
17. Closing Years
Conclusion
Bibliography