The New Age of Genocide: Intellectual and Political Challenges after Gaza

The European Centre for Palestine Studies (ECPS) is delighted to invite you to the launch of The New Age of Genocide: Intellectual and Political Challenges after Gaza, featuring Professor Martin Shaw.

This event will explore the central arguments of Professor Shaw’s latest book, which examines the political, intellectual, and ethical challenges posed by the war on Gaza and its broader implications for genocide studies, international politics, and global justice. Drawing on decades of research into war, genocide, and international relations, the talk will consider how recent events have reshaped understandings of mass violence, state power, accountability, and resistance.

The discussion will address the evolving meanings of genocide in contemporary political discourse and explore the responsibilities of scholars, policymakers, and civil society in responding to large-scale human suffering. Particular attention will be given to Gaza as a critical case through which broader questions of international law, humanitarian intervention, historical memory, and political responsibility can be examined.

The event will provide an opportunity for attendees to engage with current debates in genocide studies and to reflect on the intellectual and political challenges that emerge in the aftermath of mass violence.

About the Book

The New Age of Genocide: Intellectual and Political Challenges after Gaza argues that the war on Gaza represents a significant turning point in contemporary understandings of genocide and political violence. The book examines how recent developments challenge established frameworks within genocide studies and calls for renewed engagement with questions of justice, responsibility, and international action.

Bringing together historical analysis, political theory, and contemporary case studies, the work contributes to ongoing debates concerning the nature of genocide in the twenty-first century and the role of intellectuals and public institutions in confronting it.

Speaker Biography

Professor Martin Shaw is one of the world's leading scholars of war, genocide, and international politics. He is Professor Emeritus of International Relations and Politics and has held academic appointments at several leading universities in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Professor Shaw is widely recognised for his pioneering contributions to genocide studies and for developing influential theoretical approaches to understanding genocide as a form of social and political violence. His extensive body of work has shaped scholarly debates on warfare, global politics, human rights, and international intervention.

He is the author of numerous books and articles, including What Is Genocide?, War and Genocide, and The New Western Way of War. His research has consistently sought to bridge academic scholarship and public debate, addressing some of the most pressing ethical and political issues of the contemporary world.