USHMM Presentation

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

3

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

1

2

3

4

KEY FINDINGS

4

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

5

NEARLY HALF KNOW THE CORRECT DEFINITION OF GENOCIDE

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

PREVENTABLEDo you think that genocide is preventable? Showing All

66

29

5Yes

No

10

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

11

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

12

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

13

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

14

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

16

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.

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

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

21

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

22

69% SAY THE PRESIDENT NEEDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION TO STOP GENOCIDE

23

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

4

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

25

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

26

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

29

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

28

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

29

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

31

33