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The 9th of the 2022 Ömer Engin Lütem Conferences with Dr. Onur Uraz(*) as the speaker was held on 26 December 2022. The conference introduced Dr. Uraz’s book titled “Classifying Genocide in International Law: The Substantiality Requirement” that was published by Routledge in August 2022.

Starting from the question “How many people should be targeted in attack with the intent to destroy so that it constitutes a crime of genocide?”, Dr. Uraz discussed how different theoretical approaches regarding the crime of genocide in international law determine judicial decisions through legal doctrines. He discussed whether there is an objective approach to the crime of genocide in international law.

Dr. Uraz argues that "individualist" and "collectivist" approaches regarding the existence and value of protected groups are insufficient and static for the legal construction of the crime of genocide, and in this respect, a third interpretative understanding is required. In this context, he put forward that the methods developed for the test known as the "substantiality requirement" are the result of "individualist" and "collectivist" approaches. Dr. Uraz conveyed to the audience how the content and scope of the crime of genocide has changed significantly with the method that was discussed.

The conference ended with a Q&A session.

(*) Scholar in Residence, Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM)