Formulation and Use of the Concept of “Resistance” in the Context of Genocides

Abstract

Recognizing the multiplicity of contexts and interpretations surrounding the notion of resistance, this article examines the evolution of the concept, its diverse modalities, and its particular manifestations within the framework of genocidal processes.

Focusing on the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and the Rwandan Genocide, the study highlights a wide spectrum of resistance strategies, ranging from organized armed defense to individual and collective acts of nonviolent opposition, as well as spiritual, cultural, and intellectual efforts aimed at preserving identity and humanity. It further considers the ongoing struggle against denial as a continuation of resistance beyond the temporal boundaries of the genocides themselves.

The analysis emphasizes that, depending on one’s capacity to maintain composure under extreme conditions, regulate emotions, react decisively, and display ingenuity, victims could transform into active agents through acts of defiance, self-protection, or other expressions of resistance.

Drawing on examples identified across the three case studies, the article concludes that every attempt to survive and safeguard life was inherently individual and situational, shaped by the available means of opposition and protection, and encompassing both physical and non-physical dimensions.