Raphael Lemkin and the Struggle for the Genocide Convention

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 Formative Years in Poland Escape from Poland Early Years in the United States The Publication of his Master Work and the Nuremberg Trial The United Nations Resolution on Genocide 1947, the First Draft of the Convention Private Life Yale and Geneva Paris, Preliminary Discussion of the Convention The First Reading of the Convention The Convention is Adopted The International Campaign for Ratification of the Convention The United States Senate and the Convention The Genocide Convention: its Supporters and Enemies The History of Genocide The History of Genocide: Case Studies Closing Years Conclusion Bibliography

“The strength of Cooper’s book is its detail on Lemkin’s role in fostering an international treaty on genocide. Cooper makes good use of British Foreign Office material and of Lemkin’s autobiographical writings. He juxtaposes material from official proceedings and Lemkin’s own to illustrate the backstory, giving us a vivid picture of the scope and importance of Lemkin’s contributions. … Cooper’s book gives a reader insight into the intellectual and political work that brought these mechanisms into being.” (John B. Quigley, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Vol. 31 (5), 2017)