Utilitarian genocide facts for kids
Utilitarian genocide is a type of genocide where people are killed or harmed to gain something valuable, like land or resources. It's different from genocides that happen because of someone's beliefs or identity, like the Holocaust. Instead, the main goal is to get rich or gain control of valuable things.
A scholar named Vahakn Dadrian first described this type of genocide in 1975. He said that utilitarian genocide happens when people want to take over land to use its resources, like minerals, oil, or forests, for money. Two examples he gave are the genocide of indigenous peoples in Brazil and the genocide of indigenous peoples in Paraguay.
What is Utilitarian Genocide?
Utilitarian genocide is a terrible act where a group of people is targeted and harmed, not because of who they are, but because they are seen as standing in the way of someone else's wealth or resources. The people doing the harm want to get control of land, minerals, or other valuable things. They might force people to move, or even kill them, to get what they want.
History of Utilitarian Genocide
This type of genocide happened a lot during the time when European countries were expanding their power around the world. This period is known as colonialism. Europeans traveled to places like the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
European Colonialism and Its Impact
When Europeans arrived in new lands, they often wanted to take control of the territory and its resources. The native people who already lived there suffered greatly. Many were killed, forced into slavery, or died from diseases like smallpox that the Europeans brought with them. Their populations dropped very quickly.
Examples from History
Vahakn Dadrian also pointed to other historical events as examples of utilitarian genocide:
- The killings of Moors and Jews during the Spanish Inquisition. This was a time in Spain when people were persecuted for their religion, but it also involved taking their property.
- The deaths of Cherokee Indians during the westward expansion of the United States. This was part of a process called Indian removal, where Native American tribes were forced to leave their lands so that American settlers could move in.
Utilitarian Genocide Today
Sadly, utilitarian genocide still happens in the world today. For example, some indigenous tribes living in the rainforests of South America are still being harmed. This is often because industries want to develop resources like timber or minerals in their territories. The native people are seen as a "hindrance" or obstacle to making money. Because of this, they are sometimes forced to move from their homes or are even killed.
See also
In Spanish: Genocidio utilitario para niños
