In an interview on Changing the World for Good

Daniel Goldhagen has written the book Worse than War and made a documentary from it.  It seems to be an exploration of why mass murder occurs and how to stop it?

He is also the author of Hitler’s Willing Executioners, an important and extremely powerful book which caused a stir when it was published. Mr Goldhagen points out that in the last century there has been an unbroken chain of genocides and mass murders resulting in 100 million deaths.

In Worse than War, Goldhagen lays out the elements; in order for genocide to take place, certain key components must be present: a leader with a political agenda who is able to use people’s existing fears, grievances, convictions or prejudices to convince them that another group poses a threat to their own security and well-being. Details are organised and put into action. Ordinary people choose to participate. Those with the power to halt the killing choose to do nothing.

As food becomes more scarce and as the world’s population grows, genocides will proliferate. Worse than War is a very thoughtful book about choice and what we can all do to influence our leaders and become more aware ourselves. I think it should be taught in every school.

Another magisterial work is A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, a book by Samantha Powers which is the book on genocide. Of course, it is hugely depressing but essential to have on your shelf. I tell my children that ‘with knowledge comes responsibility’. It is for this reason I chose these five books. Undeniably, we can and must do better as we move forward. Alternatively, we are moving toward an abyss.

Do you think that conflict is one of the key things that slows down the progress of the Millennium Development Goals?

I think it is all interwoven. Look at the Goals – there is one for protecting the environment and building partnerships for development and helping to reduce poverty. If these goals were realised, then it is far more likely that conflict will reduced.