The papers and discussions at the conference were directed in part toward the investigation of the general themes articulated below.

Thematic Background for Discussion

As we have announced previously, the purpose of the conference will be to explore the state of new research on the historical and legal aspects of ethnic cleansing in the twentieth century, to look comparatively at the experiences of populations expelled, and to examine the process of ethnic cleansing itself. We have tried to define our topic in such a way as to make it clear that the Holocaust will be an important background consideration, and its historiography--which is really far more mature than the historical and other analytical work on ethnic cleansing in general--will be an important model for comparative purposes.  Still we are attempting to focus on the much less studied areas that have identified.  A number of commonalities emerged in the process of putting the conference together, and these can well serve as salient themes which we might address in the papers, and important issues for discussions at the conference.

  1. Definition.  What is ethnic cleansing?  Should all cases of population transfer be conceptualized as the same phenomenon?  Has "ethnic cleansing" been diluted in terms of meaning? Should we adopt another terminology in dealing with the varieties of forced transfers of populations?

  2. Origins.  Ethnic cleansing has existed in some form from antiquity, but it has never been practiced with more variety or intensity than in the twentieth century.  Where do we look for the origins and roots of this outburst? Nationalism? State building? Popular movements? Economic conditions?

  3. Consequences: Clearly, many twentieth-century political leaders have opted to engage in forced population transfers and related behaviors.  Misery to those transferred has been one result, and that should not in any way be minimized. We should also ask, however:  "What have been the long-term results.

  4. Processes:  Looking at many cases of ethnic cleansing, how do the processes, carried out over the century and in many different regions, compare?  Can we see a continuity? Or do the cases of ethnic cleansing tend to exhibit highly specific, or particular, characteristics centered around local conditions and history?
 

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