'Between 1975 and 1978, the Khmer Rouge carried out genocide in Cambodia unparalleled in modern history. Approximately 2 million died—almost one quarter of the population. Taking an explicitly geographical approach, this book argues whether the Khmer Rouge's activities not only led to genocide, but also terracide—the erasure of space.

In the Cambodia of 1975, the landscape would reveal vestiges of an indigenous pre-colonial Khmer society, a French colonialism and American intervention. The Khmer Rouge, however, were not content with retaining the past inscriptions of previous modes of production and spatial practices. Instead, they attempted to erase time and space to create their own utopian vision of a communal society. The Khmer Rouge's erasing and reshaping of space was thus part of a consistent sacrifice of Cambodia and its people—a brutal justification for the killing of a country and the birth of a new place, Democratic Kampuchea.

While focusing on Cambodia, the book provides a clearer geographic understanding to genocide in general and insights into the importance of spatial factors in geopolitical conflict.' - from publisher's website
Access level

Onsite

Location code
REF.TYJ2
Language

English

Keyword
Publication/Creation date

2008

No of pages

209

ISBN / ISSN

9780754670964

No of copies

1

Content type

monograph

Chapter headings

Imagining Genocide

Irruptions and Disruptions

The Improbable Revolution

The Un-Making of Space

The Placelessness of Democratic Kampuchea

The Political and the Subject

A Political Understanding of Genocide and Justice

The Killing of Cambodia: Geography, Genocide and the Unmaking of Space
Share
Citation
Rights statement

In Copyright

What does this mean?

This item is covered by one or more copyrights. It is available for research only or use within Hong Kong’s fair dealing rules. Please do not copy, re-use or reproduce this item without the permission of the copyright holder.

The Killing of Cambodia: Geography, Genocide and the Unmaking of Space