In the aftermath of the Holocaust, the world community vowed to ‘never again’ allow such atrocities to recur. Yet, genocide has remained part of the human experience. The growing list of political leaders willing to use hate speech and xenophobic language as the primary tools of governance remind us that even the most democratic societies can fail to stop the descent towards mass violence. Its persistence has raised the question, is genocide preventable or is it an inescapable aspect of human nature? Can social science theory speak to what is typically thought of as irrational, unspeakable horrors of conflict and oppression? This seminar takes a multidisciplinary approach to the phenomena of genocide and identity-based conflicts and uses them as a lens through which to critically examine the building blocks of modernity. At a time when spatial (national) barriers appear increasingly ephemeral, the resurgence of nativism and right-wing populism raises questions about the enduring appeal of identity. Political elites and journalists tend to offer tidy, if convenient, vilification of “butchers” and “crazies” to explain sectarian conflicts. This has not led us to a better understanding of the phenomena or to a more effective prevention mechanism. We need a critical lens to reveal the different pathways to genocide and to illuminate the complex relationship between interests and identities that underlie them. The course combines theoretical insights with an in-depth analysis of current and historic cases. It raises questions about causes and consequences of mass atrocity events, classification of crimes and categorization of participators, the politics of naming and commemoration, and the evolution of international principles and institutions. NOTE: This course was formerly titled "Ethnic Conflict & Genocide."