The Politics of Pity: Exploration of Governmental Genocide Recognition in the Netherlands - Dijkema, 8483817

Abstract

This thesis explores how the Dutch government’s policy on recognising genocide (GRP) has evolved in the post-Cold War period. It compares its responses to the Kurdish (al-Anfal) genocide in the late 1980s and the Yezidi genocide carried out by ISIS in 2014. The study investigates why the Netherlands has recognised specific atrocities as genocide and others not. Using declassified documents, parliamentary debates, official statements, and archival records, it analyses how historical consciousness, international legal standards, and strategic interests influence recognition decisions. The results indicate that, although the Dutch government increasingly cites international laws, legal caution often serves as a means of political discretion. Recognition depends heavily on context, influenced by legal, historical, parliamentary, and foreign policy factors. The thesis argues that the institutionalisation of genocide discourse in the Netherlands has produced a more formalised but still selective approach to recognition, in which political expediency plays a critical role. By examining the evolution of Dutch GRP, this work contributes to broader discussions on how liberal democracies handle the moral and political challenges of labelling atrocities in international relations.