Introduction

This book is concerned with the normative issue of understanding which harms are caused or constituted by genocide denial. The common understanding of genocide denial as (a) an assault on truth and memory and (b) a violation of the dignity of survivors and their descendants prompts an investigation into its epistemological dimension of harm. This introduction motivates and outlines the concepts, methods, and theories employed in the book. It also introduces the main case study. It highlights the central questions to be addressed and the significance of genocide denial for scholarship on both genocide and epistemic injustice. The aim is to clarify and distinguish the book’s approach from other practical normative issues related to genocide denial (e.g., its criminalization). It also introduces the structure of the book by providing an overview of the chapters.