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2. UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST
MEMORIAL MUSEUM
NATIONAL POLL
KEY FINDINGS

3. METHODOLGY
Between June 30th - July 10th, PSB conducted 1,000 telephone interviews
among U.S. General Population
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.
3

4. KEY FINDINGS
Americans believe genocide is very possible but also
1
preventable
Americans believe the U.S. has a strong role in
2 stopping genocide militarily and with proper education
Americans’ biggest fear related to genocide is
3 state-sponsored mass killings
Americans think the U.S. should get involved in Syria
4
– but with a coalition
4

5. NEARLY HALF KNOW THE CORRECT
DEFINITION OF GENOCIDE
Younger Americans most likely to identify the correct definition
DEFINITION OF GENOCIDE
Which of the following best describes genocide? Showing All
46
33 8 5
Destruction of a Mass killing of Widespread human Large scale war
racial, ethnic, civilians rights abuses crimes
religious or national
group
55% 39%
of Americans under 35 identified of Americans over 55 identified
the correct definition the correct definition
5

6. HOLOCAUST, AFRICA AND HITLER TOP OF
MIND ASSOCIATIONS WITH GENOCIDE
TOP OF MIND ASSOCIATION
What’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking of genocide?
Showing All
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
6

7. YOUNGER AMERICANS ASSOCIATE
GENOCIDE PRIMARILY WITH THE
HOLOCAUST AND HITLER
Q: What’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking of genocide?
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
7

8. OLDER AMERICANS MORE LIKELY TO
THINK OF SPECIFIC RECENT EVENTS LIKE
RWANDA AND SYRIA
Q: What’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking of genocide?
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
8

9. 94% OF AMERICANS FEEL GENOCIDE
CAN STILL OCCUR TODAY
Which of the following is closer to your view?
Genocide is still very Genocide is a thing of
much a concern and the past; it is unlikely to
could occur today happen in current times
All 94 2 4
• 57% say genocides are more likely to occur during tough
economic times
9

10. 2 IN 3 AMERICANS SAY GENOCIDE IS
PREVENTABLE
PREVENTABLE
Do you think that genocide is preventable? Showing All
5
Yes
29
No
66
10

11. MAJORITY THINK GENOCIDE IS CAUSED BY
POWER AND POLITICS OR IGNORANCE
CAUSES OF GENOCIDE
In your opinion, what causes genocide? MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED. Showing All
52 50 45
36
12
Power and Ignorance Religious and/ or Intolerance Other
politics ethnic
differences
11

12. NEARLY 2 IN 3 SAY GENOCIDE IS DRIVEN BY
POLITICAL LEADERS MORE THAN HATE
AMONG PEOPLE
Which of the following is closer to your view?
Genocide occurs mainly because ordinary
Genocide occurs mainly because political
people from different groups hate each
or military leaders order or encourage
other so much that they decide to kill
people to kill
each other
All 63 6 31
12

13. CONCERN IS BECAUSE OF MORAL
REASONS MORE THAN ECONOMIC OR
SECURITY REASONS
REASONS PEOPLE BECOME CONCERNED
Which of the following are reasons why you become concerned when you hear about genocide or mass
atrocities? MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED. Showing All
75% Moral Principles
70% Sympathy for Victims
39% National Security
33% Economic implications
13

14. 69% THINK THE U.S. SHOULD PREVENT OR
STOP GENOCIDE FROM OCCURRING IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD
U.S. PREVENTING OR STOPPING GENOCIDE
Do you think the U.S. should prevent or stop genocide or mass atrocities
from occurring in another part of the world? Showing All
Yes
6
No 25
69
14

15. AMERICANS THINK INTERNATIONAL
BODIES HAVE THE MOST RESPONSIBILITY
FOR STOPPING GENOCIDE
Only 8% think the United States is most responsible
RESPONSIBILITY FOR STOPPING GENOCIDE
When there is a risk of genocide or mass atrocities, who do you think is most responsible
for preventing or stopping them? Showing All
43
31 10 8
1
International Countries directly Neighboring United States Non-governmental
bodies involved in the countries to where organizations
conflict the conflict is
taking place
15

16. MORE THAN HALF FEEL THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY IS NOT EFFECTIVE AT PROTECTING
CIVILIANS FROM GENOCIDE
Younger Americans are more optimistic – 59% say the
international community is effective
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Respondents were read: Given this statement, how effective do you think the
international community is at protecting civilians from
“Responsibility to Protect” genocide or mass atrocities? Showing All
is the United Nations’
doctrine that states that
all nations have a
responsibility to protect 43
Effective
citizens from
genocide, war 2
crimes, ethnic cleansing Not Effective
and crimes against
humanity 55
16

17. 34% THINK THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL
COURT IS EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING
GENOCIDE
Young Americans have more confidence in the ICC – 46% think it is
effective
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ICC
Respondents were read: Do you think that having a court like the ICC is effective at
The International Criminal preventing genocide? Showing All
Court (ICC) is a
permanent, treaty-based
international criminal
court established to help 16
charge perpetrators of Yes 34
the most serious crimes of
concern to the No
international community. 50
The ICC is an independent
international organization
and is not part of the
United Nations system.
17

18. 77% ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH UNITED NATIONS’
“RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT” PLAN
FAMILIARITY WITH PLAN
Are you familiar with the “Responsibility to Protect”
Initiative? Showing All
Yes
2
21
No
77
18

19. AMERICANS MOST LIKELY TO THINK U.S. SHOULD
ENGAGE WHEN THERE ARE LARGE-SCALE HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES OR GOVERNMENT KILLINGS
WHEN U.S. SHOULD ENGAGE
Thinking generally about various acts against civilians, when should the U.S. engage in conflict? Showing All
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
19

20. MAJORITY OF AMERICANS THINK
MULTINATIONAL ACTION IS THE MOST
EFFECTIVE MILITARY STRATEGY
MOST EFFECTIVE MILITARY STRATEGIES
In your opinion, which military strategies are most effective in stopping genocide or mass atrocities? MULTIPLE
RESPONSES PERMITTED (UP TO 2). Showing All
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

21. 78% SUPPORT U.S. TAKING MILITARY ACTION
TO STOP GENOCIDE OR MASS ATROCITIES
SUPPORT FOR U.S. MILITARY ACTION
Do you support or oppose the U.S. taking military action to stop
genocide or mass atrocities? Showing All
Support
78
Oppose
4
18
21

22. 69% SAY THE PRESIDENT NEEDS
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL TO TAKE
MILITARY ACTION TO STOP GENOCIDE
Young are much more likely than older Americans to say
Congressional approval is needed
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL
Do 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
3
Yes 28
No 69
22

23. AMERICANS DON’T CONSIDER SYRIA A TOP
U.S. FOREIGN POLICY ISSUE
TOP POLICY ISSUES
In your opinion, what are the 2-3 most important U.S. foreign policy, global issues today?
MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED (UP TO 3). Showing All
24 23 22
19 19 19
16 16
13
11 10 10
4
Afghanistan EU Human Terrorism Middle China Iran Nuclear Genocide Trade Syria North Russia
economy rights East Arms Korea
23

24. 55% THINK THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE
MILITARY ACTION IN SYRIA
SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTION
Thinking 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 Not Convinced U.S. should
/should have taken action take/should have taken action
55
13
24
Syria
24

25. MORE THAN HALF SUPPORT U.S. BOOTS ON
THE GROUND IN SYRIA AND SUDAN – BUT ONLY
AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE
Humanitarian aid and economic sanctions have the most support
SUPPORT FOR U.S. ACTIONS
Which of the following actions by the U.S. government would Syria Sudan
you support to stop atrocities in …? MULTIPLE RESPONSES
PERMITTED. Showing All
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
55 56
force
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
25

26. ABOUT 6 IN 10 AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT
US SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MILITARY ACTION
IN PAST ATROCITIES
SUPPORT FOR MILITARY ACTION
Thinking 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 Not Convinced U.S. should
/should have taken action take/should have taken action
63 62 60 59
13 13 12 8
24 24 28 33
Bosnia Rwanda Darfur, Sudan Libya
26

27. MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE FAMILIAR
WITH CASES OF GENOCIDES
• 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 GENOCIDE
How familiar are you with the following cases of mass atrocities? Showing All, Total Familiar
91
73 70 69 67 65 62
29
Holocaust Syria Rwanda Bosnia Libya Darfur, Sudan Cambodia Armenia
27

28. AMERICANS THINK RELIGIOUS GROUPS OR
ETHNIC GROUPS ARE THE LIKELIEST
VICTIMS
MOST LIKELY VICTIMS OF GENOCIDES
Which 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
59 53
45
23 21 19
11
Religious Ethnic Racial Political Gay/ Economic Physically
groups groups groups groups homosexual classes or mentally
groups disabled
groups
28

29. MILITARY INTERVENTION, TOLERANCE EDUCATION AND
ARRESTS ARE SEEN AS MOST EFFECTIVE IN
PREVENTING OR STOPPING GENOCIDE
EDUCATION ABOUT GENOCIDE
In your opinion, what methods or
Do you think that education about the history of genocide
efforts would be most effective in
can help prevent future atrocities? Showing All
preventing and/or stopping genocide All
or mass atrocities? MULTIPLE
RESPONSES PERMITTED (UP TO 2)
Military intervention 33
3
Education of populace in tolerance 31 Yes 21
Arresting perpetrators 30
No
Diplomatic negotiations 21
Economic sanctions 21 76
Humanitarian relief 14
Development assistance 11
None of the above 3
29

30. RECAP
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
30

31. RECAP
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
31

33. 33