A leading group of genocide scholars has signed a powerful statement regarding climate change that represents an urgent paradigm shift in the field. Pivoting away from an exclusive focus on mass violence perpetrated by human beings against other human beings, the signatories propose a fundamental change to their cornerstone mentalities. Genocide scholarship examines why one group of people seeks the annihilation of another group of people. And its practitioners have tried to understand how to prevent mass atrocities. Drawing on certain ethical norms, experts on genocide urge the adoption of moral standards that aim to create a better society.

Until now, devastating man-made crises such as pandemics and environmental disasters were mostly left to the domain of the natural sciences. This is precisely what needs to change.  The consequences from these human induced catastrophes have the potential to imperil not only Earth’s ecosystems but also all living species. Moreover, they disproportionately impact marginalized communities and the eventual cost to human life could be on an unforeseen scale. To that end, these issues must immediately move to the center of genocide studies entailing major revisions to university curricula, research priorities, and scholarly discourse.

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We are deeply disturbed by the latest developments in the case against Holocaust scholars Professors Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski.  Yesterday, a Polish court found them guilty of libel and ordered them to issue a public apology for a passage that appeared in their book, Night without End. This is a dangerous precedent that has rightly garnered the attention of a range of academic institutions including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem, the AHA (American Historical Association), and others.

We wish to add our voices to the chorus of concern for the future of independent scholarship, academic freedom, and open inquiry. Scholarship is based upon principles that hold true around the globe. There is no place for government intervention or court intrusion into solid efforts to investigate and write about historical events. We decry any politicization and uphold the rigorous process of scholarly review that is essential to academic publication. As scholars and leaders in the field of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, we recognize that our work is uniquely vulnerable to such intervention.

Book burning, censorship, intimidation of scholars and artists are well-known elements of Nazism. The case against Professors Engelking and Grabowski is reminiscent of such crimes and invites those who would deny or downplay the Holocaust and other genocides. This verdict deserves the condemnation of citizens and governments worldwide.

Taner Akçam, Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Professor in Armenian Genocide Studies

Thomas Kühne, Strassler Colin Flug Professor of Holocaust History and Director of the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

Ken MacLean, Associate Professor of International Development and Social Change

Mary Jane Rein, Executive Director of the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

Frances Tanzer, Rose Professor of Holocaust Studies and Modern Jewish History and Culture