How do human beings rationalize genocide? NAZA provides a chilling look
It’s easier to blame brutes and sadists for extreme violence. But as we see in the documentary, modern genocides are fueled by people who are uncomfortably recognizable
TL;DR
- Modern genocides are carried out by technocrats and planners, not just sadists and brutes.
- The documentary NAZA features interviews with Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers detailing killings in Gaza.
- The term 'NAZA' (collateral damage) is used to distance operatives from the human cost of their actions.
- Perpetrators often describe their actions with dispassionate, technical language, detached from the human suffering caused.
- The film explores how ordinary individuals, often from privileged backgrounds, can become complicit in large-scale violence.
- Factors like obedience to authority, professionalism, and emotional detachment enable these individuals to commit atrocities.
- The testimony of the 24 interviewees provides a rare perspective on the mechanics and rationalizations behind distant killing.