Genocide · Foreign relations · History
A Problem from Hell by Samantha Power — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2002656 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 3.0 (4)
Rate it
What is A Problem from Hell about?
""A Problem from Hell" is a path-breaking interrogation of the last century of American history. Samantha Power poses a question that haunts our nation's past: Why do American leaders who vow "never again" repeatedly fail to marhsal the will and the might to stop genocide? She provides the answer in the form of the suspenseful story of courageous individuals who risked their careers and lives in an effort to get the United States to act.
Drawing upon exclusive interviews with Washington's top policymakers, access to thousands of pages of newly declassified documents, and her own reporting from the modern killing fields, Power shows how those who urged U.S. action were thwarted again and again by ignorance, indifference, and, above all, a failure of imagination."--BOOK JACKET.
A glimpse inside
The Paradox of 'Never Again'
Power explores the persistent gap between America’s public commitment to preventing genocide and its actual policy decisions. Despite the lessons of the Holocaust and repeated vows of 'never again,' U.S. leaders have often chosen not to intervene when faced with mass atrocities. The book examines how this paradox is rooted in a combination of political risk aversion, competing interests, and a reluctance to label atrocities as genocide, which would trigger legal and moral obligations.
The Power—and Limits—of Individuals
Through vivid portraits of diplomats, activists, and whistleblowers, Power shows that individuals can make a difference in raising awareness and pushing for action. However, she also illustrates the limits of individual influence when confronted with institutional inertia and political calculations. The stories of Raphael Lemkin (who coined the term 'genocide') and others reveal both the courage and frustration experienced by those who try to move governments to act.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 3.0 / 5
4 ratings
Google Books
★ 4.0 / 5
1 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Paradox of 'Never Again'
- 2The Power—and Limits—of Individuals
- 3Bureaucratic and Political Obstacles
- 4The Importance—and Manipulation—of Language
- 5Historical Case Studies as Warnings
Popular quotes from A Problem from Hell
“No U.S. president has ever made genocide prevention a priority, and no U.S. president has ever suffered politically for his indifference to its occurrence.”
“The United States had the power to act, but not the will.”
Frequently asked
""A Problem from Hell" is a path-breaking interrogation of the last century of American history. Samantha Power poses a question that haunts our nation's past: Why do American leaders who vow "never again" repeatedly fail to marhsal the will and the might to stop genocide? She provides the answer in the form of the suspenseful story of courageous individuals who risked their careers and lives in a