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UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM NATIONAL POLL
KEY FINDINGS
Between June 30th - July 10th, PSB conducted 1,000 telephone interviews among U.S. General Population
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Audience Sample Size Margin of Error
U.S. General Population 1,000 +/- 3.1%
Sample is demographically representative of the United States Census; it includes 750 interviews among landline respondents and 250 interviews among cell phone respondents. Respondents were contacted using a random phone dialing system and cell-phone dialing, meeting industry standards for reaching a representative sample of the U.S. General Population.
METHODOLGY
Americans’ biggest fear related to genocide is state-sponsored mass killings
Americans believe genocide is very possible but also preventable
Americans believe the U.S. has a strong role in stopping genocide militarily and with proper education
Americans think the U.S. should get involved in Syria – but with a coalition
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2
3
4
KEY FINDINGS
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Younger Americans most likely to identify the correct definition
Destruction of a racial, ethnic,
religious or national group
Mass killing of civilians
Widespread human rights abuses
Large scale war crimes
4633 8 5
DEFINITION OF GENOCIDEWhich of the following best describes genocide? Showing All
55% of Americans under 35 identified
the correct definition
39% of Americans over 55 identified
the correct definition
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NEARLY HALF KNOW THE CORRECT DEFINITION OF GENOCIDE
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Words removed: death, murder, mass murder, killing, mass killing, mass destruction, killing people, people being killed, killing innocent people, mass death, atrocities, unnecessary killing, ethnic cleansing, extinction of race, government killing people, racial or religious cleansing, assassination
HOLOCAUST, AFRICA AND HITLER TOP OF MIND ASSOCIATIONS WITH GENOCIDE
TOP OF MIND ASSOCIATIONWhat’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking of genocide?
Showing All
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Under 35
Words removed: death, murder, mass murder, killing, mass killing, mass destruction, killing people, people being killed, killing innocent people, mass death, atrocities, unnecessary killing, ethnic cleansing, extinction of race, government killing people, racial or religious cleansing, assassination
YOUNGER AMERICANS ASSOCIATE GENOCIDE PRIMARILY WITH THE HOLOCAUST AND HITLER
Q: What’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking of genocide?
OLDER AMERICANS MORE LIKELY TO THINK OF SPECIFIC RECENT EVENTS LIKE RWANDA AND SYRIA
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Over 55
Words removed: death, murder, mass murder, killing, mass killing, mass destruction, killing people, people being killed, killing innocent people, mass death, atrocities, unnecessary killing, ethnic cleansing, extinction of race, government killing people, racial or religious cleansing, assassination
Q: What’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking of genocide?
Which of the following is closer to your view?
All 94 2 4
Genocide is still very much a concern and
could occur today
Genocide is a thing of the past; it is unlikely to happen in current times
• 57% say genocides are more likely to occur during tough economic times
94% OF AMERICANS FEEL GENOCIDE CAN STILL OCCUR TODAY
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PREVENTABLEDo you think that genocide is preventable? Showing All
66
29
5Yes
No
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2 IN 3 AMERICANS SAY GENOCIDE IS PREVENTABLE
CAUSES OF GENOCIDEIn your opinion, what causes genocide? MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED. Showing All
Power an
d politics
Ignoran
ce
Religio
us and/ o
r ethnic
difference
s
Intoleran
ceOther
52 50 45 3612
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MAJORITY THINK GENOCIDE IS CAUSED BY POWER AND POLITICS OR IGNORANCE
All 63 6 31
Which of the following is closer to your view?
Genocide occurs mainly because political or military leaders order or encourage
people to kill
Genocide occurs mainly because ordinary people from different groups hate each other so much that they decide to kill
each other
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NEARLY 2 IN 3 SAY GENOCIDE IS DRIVEN BY POLITICAL LEADERS MORE THAN HATE AMONG PEOPLE
75% Moral Principles
70% Sympathy for Victims
39% National Security
33% Economic implications
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REASONS PEOPLE BECOME CONCERNEDWhich of the following are reasons why you become concerned when you hear about genocide or mass
atrocities? MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED. Showing All
CONCERN IS BECAUSE OF MORAL REASONS MORE THAN ECONOMIC OR SECURITY REASONS
U.S. PREVENTING OR STOPPING GENOCIDEDo you think the U.S. should prevent or stop genocide or mass atrocities
from occurring in another part of the world? Showing All
69
25
6Yes
No
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69% THINK THE U.S. SHOULD PREVENT OR STOP GENOCIDE FROM OCCURRING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
RESPONSIBILITY FOR STOPPING GENOCIDEWhen there is a risk of genocide or mass atrocities, who do you think is most responsible
for preventing or stopping them? Showing All
4331 10 8
1
15
Only 8% think the United States is most responsible
AMERICANS THINK INTERNATIONAL BODIES HAVE THE MOST RESPONSIBILITY FOR STOPPING GENOCIDE
Younger Americans are more optimistic – 59% say the international community is effective
Respondents were read:“Responsibility to Protect” is the United Nations’ doctrine that states that all nations have a responsibility to protect citizens from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Given this statement, how effective do you think the international community is at protecting civilians from
genocide or mass atrocities? Showing All
Series12
55
43
Effective
Not Effective
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MORE THAN HALF FEEL THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOT EFFECTIVE AT PROTECTING CIVILIANS FROM GENOCIDE
Young Americans have more confidence in the ICC – 46% think it is effective
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ICCDo you think that having a court like the ICC is effective at
preventing genocide? Showing All
34
50
16
Yes
No
Respondents were read:The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent, treaty-based international criminal court established to help charge perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. The ICC is an independent international organization and is not part of the United Nations system.
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34% THINK THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IS EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING GENOCIDE
FAMILIARITY WITH PLANAre you familiar with the “Responsibility to Protect”
Initiative? Showing All
21
77
2Yes
No
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77% ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH UNITED NATIONS’ “RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT” PLAN
28% large scale human rights abuses
25% government itself is responsible for mass civilians deaths
16% large numbers of members of a group killed
11% reasonable chance of success
WHEN U.S. SHOULD ENGAGEThinking generally about various acts against civilians, when should the U.S. engage in conflict? Showing All
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AMERICANS MOST LIKELY TO THINK U.S. SHOULD ENGAGE WHEN THERE ARE LARGE-SCALE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES OR GOVERNMENT KILLINGS
53% Multilateral action
27% Military action facilitated by international bodies (e.g. U.N)
10% Unilateral action by U.S.
5% None of the above
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MAJORITY OF AMERICANS THINK MULTINATIONAL ACTION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MILITARY STRATEGY
MOST EFFECTIVE MILITARY STRATEGIESIn your opinion, which military strategies are most effective in stopping genocide or mass atrocities? MULTIPLE
RESPONSES PERMITTED (UP TO 2). Showing All
SUPPORT FOR U.S. MILITARY ACTIONDo you support or oppose the U.S. taking military action to stop
genocide or mass atrocities? Showing All
Series14
18
78Support
Oppose
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78% SUPPORT U.S. TAKING MILITARY ACTION TO STOP GENOCIDE OR MASS ATROCITIES
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVALDo you think the President of the United States needs
Congress’s approval to take military action in the event of genocide or mass atrocities? Showing All
69
28
3
Yes
No
Young are much more likely than older Americans to say Congressional approval is needed
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69% SAY THE PRESIDENT NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION TO STOP GENOCIDE
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AMERICANS DON’T CONSIDER SYRIA A TOP U.S. FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE
TOP POLICY ISSUESIn your opinion, what are the 2-3 most important U.S. foreign policy, global issues today?
MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED (UP TO 3). Showing All
Afghanistan EU economy
Human rights
Terrorism Middle East
China Iran Nuclear Arms
Genocide Trade Syria North Korea
Russia
24 23 2219 19 19
16 1613 11 10 10
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SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTIONThinking about past and more recent international conflicts, how convinced
are you that the U.S. should have taken military action in ….? Showing All
Convinced U.S. should take /should have taken action
Not Convinced U.S. should take/should have taken action
24
55
13
24
Syria
55% THINK THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE MILITARY ACTION IN SYRIA
Humanitarian aid and economic sanctions have the most support
SUPPORT FOR U.S. ACTIONSWhich of the following actions by the U.S. government would you support to stop atrocities in …? MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED. Showing All
Syria Sudan
Helping refugees to flee the violence 63 61
Freezing trade except for food and medicine for the victims 59 57
Sending U.S. ground forces but only as part of an international force 55 56
Air strikes on government and military targets 44 40
Sending U.S. ground forces to protect civilians 38 38
Providing arms for rebels to defend themselves 32 27
No action 6 6
MORE THAN HALF SUPPORT U.S. BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN SYRIA AND SUDAN – BUT ONLY AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE
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SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTIONThinking about past and more recent international conflicts, how convinced
are you that the U.S. should have taken military action in ….? Showing All
Convinced U.S. should take /should have taken action
Not Convinced U.S. should take/should have taken action
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63 62 60 59
13 13 12 8
24 24 28 33
Bosnia Darfur, Sudan LibyaRwanda
ABOUT 6 IN 10 AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT US SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MILITARY ACTION IN PAST ATROCITIES
• Older Americans are slightly more familiar than younger – on average, 76% of Americans over 55 are familiar with these events, compared to 60% of Americans under 35
• Awareness of the Holocaust is high among all ages
FAMILIARITY WITH CASES OF GENOCIDEHow familiar are you with the following cases of mass atrocities? Showing All, Total Familiar
Holocaust Syria Rwanda Bosnia Libya Darfur, Sudan Cambodia Armenia
9173 70 69 67 65 62
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27
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE FAMILIAR WITH CASES OF GENOCIDES
Religious groups
Ethnic groups
Racial groups
Political groups
Gay/ homosexual groups
Economic classes
Physically or mentally
disabled groups
59 53 45
23 21 1911
MOST LIKELY VICTIMS OF GENOCIDESWhich of the following kinds of groups are most likely to be victims of genocide or mass atrocities ?
MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED (UP TO THREE) Showing All
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AMERICANS THINK RELIGIOUS GROUPS OR ETHNIC GROUPS ARE THE LIKELIEST VICTIMS
EDUCATION ABOUT GENOCIDEDo you think that education about the history of genocide
can help prevent future atrocities? Showing All
76
213
Yes
No
In your opinion, what methods or efforts would be most effective in preventing and/or stopping genocide or mass atrocities? MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED (UP TO 2)
All
Military intervention 33
Education of populace in tolerance 31
Arresting perpetrators 30
Diplomatic negotiations 21
Economic sanctions 21
Humanitarian relief 14
Development assistance 11
None of the above 3
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MILITARY INTERVENTION, TOLERANCE EDUCATION AND ARRESTS ARE SEEN AS MOST EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING OR STOPPING GENOCIDE
Americans believe genocide is very possible but also preventable• 94% of Americans believe that genocide is still very much a concern
and could occur today• 66% of Americans believe that it is preventable
Americans believe the U.S. has a strong role in stopping genocide militarily and with proper education• 78% support the U.S. taking military action to stop genocide or mass
atrocities• 53% say multilateral action is the most effective military strategy, while
10% say unilateral action by the U.S. is most effective• 76% believe that education about the history of genocide can help
prevent future atrocities
RECAP
30
Americans’ biggest fear related to genocide is state-sponsored mass killings• 63% believe genocide occurs mainly because political or military
leaders order or encourage people to kill• They are most likely to say the U.S. should engage in cases of large-
scale human rights abuses or when a government itself is responsible for mass civilian deaths
Americans think the U.S. should get involved in Syria – but with a coalition• 55% believe that the U.S. should take military action in Syria• 55% support sending U.S. ground forces, but only as part of an
international force
RECAP
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