- 1. A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide is a compelling and deeply affecting non-fiction work by Samantha Power that explores the moral and political failures of the United States in the face of genocides throughout the 20th century and early 21st century. Power, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, meticulously examines pivotal moments where the international community, particularly the United States, opted for inaction or insufficient responses to genocidal atrocities, such as those in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Darfur. The book is not only a historical account but also a profound ethical inquiry that challenges readers to consider the implications of indifference and the responsibilities of powerful nations to intervene on behalf of those facing brutal oppression. Through a blend of rigorous research, personal narratives from survivors, and insights into the world of diplomacy, Power crafts a narrative that is both informative and emotionally charged, ultimately urging the global community to recognize the human cost of silence and to advocate for prevention and justice in the face of such horrors. 'A Problem from Hell' serves as a clarion call, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and proactive measures in safeguarding human rights, underscoring that the lessons of the past must inform our actions in the present and future.
Which genocide does Power examine as a case study in the book?
A) The Rwandan genocide
B) The Cambodian genocide
C) The Holocaust
D) The Armenian genocide
- 2. Which U.S. government official does Power criticize for inaction during the Rwandan genocide?
A) Madeleine Albright
B) Condoleezza Rice
C) Henry Kissinger
D) Colin Powell
- 3. What was the primary reason for U.S. inaction in Rwanda according to Power?
A) Military weakness
B) International opposition
C) Economic constraints
D) Lack of political will
- 4. What year was 'A Problem from Hell' first published?
A) 2010
B) 2002
C) 2005
D) 1998
- 5. Which U.S. president receives significant criticism in the book for Bosnia policy?
A) George W. Bush
B) Ronald Reagan
C) Bill Clinton
D) George H.W. Bush
- 6. Which term describes the U.S. government's avoidance of the word 'genocide' during Rwanda?
A) Semantic evasion
B) Genocide avoidance
C) Linguistic denial
D) Rhetorical bypass
- 7. What organization does Power criticize for its bureaucratic failures?
A) The World Bank
B) The European Union
C) The United Nations
D) NATO
- 8. Which individual does Power highlight as a hero for speaking out about genocide?
A) John F. Kennedy
B) Raphael Lemkin
C) Eleanor Roosevelt
D) Winston Churchill
- 9. What does Power suggest about the 'never again' pledge after the Holocaust?
A) It was never a serious commitment
B) It only applies to Europe
C) It has been successfully upheld
D) It has been repeatedly broken
- 10. Which international court does Power discuss in relation to genocide prosecutions?
A) International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
B) International Court of Justice
C) Permanent Court of Arbitration
D) European Court of Human Rights
- 11. What role did the U.S. play in the Srebrenica massacre according to Power?
A) Provided military support
B) Failed to prevent it through inaction
C) Successfully intervened
D) Directly participated
- 12. What does Power identify as a major obstacle to genocide prevention?
A) International law restrictions
B) Military technology limitations
C) Lack of domestic political pressure
D) Economic development needs
- 13. What does Power conclude about individual responsibility in preventing genocide?
A) Military leaders bear sole responsibility
B) Individuals are powerless to stop genocide
C) Individuals can make a difference through advocacy
D) Only governments can prevent genocide
- 14. Which U.S. administration receives the most criticism in the book?
A) Reagan administration
B) Bush administration
C) Clinton administration
D) Nixon administration
- 15. What Pulitzer Prize category did 'A Problem from Hell' win in 2003?
A) Biography
B) General Nonfiction
C) History
D) Fiction
- 16. Which Cambodian leader was responsible for the killing fields?
A) Mao Zedong
B) Pol Pot
C) Ho Chi Minh
D) Kim Il-sung
- 17. Which journalist does Power highlight for reporting on the Bosnian war?
A) Roy Gutman
B) Bob Woodward
C) Christianne Amanpour
D) Tom Brokaw
- 18. Which US senator was a vocal advocate for intervention in Bosnia?
A) John McCain
B) Ted Kennedy
C) Bob Dole
D) Joe Biden
- 19. What was the Clinton administration's initial position on the term 'genocide' for Rwanda?
A) Denied it was occurring
B) Supported its use
C) Immediately acknowledged it
D) Avoided using the term
- 20. Which UN peacekeeping force was in Rwanda during the genocide?
A) UNAMIR
B) UNMOGIP
C) UNDOF
D) UNPROFOR
- 21. Which US official resigned over policy toward Bosnia?
A) Warren Christopher
B) Anthony Lake
C) George Kenney
D) Colin Powell
- 22. What was the primary ethnic group targeted in the Rwandan genocide?
A) Hutu
B) Twa
C) Yoruba
D) Tutsi
- 23. What year was the Genocide Convention adopted?
A) 1945
B) 1955
C) 1965
D) 1948
- 24. Which US president finally ratified the Genocide Convention?
A) Jimmy Carter
B) George H.W. Bush
C) Ronald Reagan
D) Bill Clinton
- 25. Which European country had colonial responsibility in Rwanda?
A) United Kingdom
B) France
C) Belgium
D) Germany
- 26. What was the estimated death toll in the Rwandan genocide?
A) 1 million
B) 300,000
C) 800,000
D) 500,000
- 27. Which UN official warned about impending genocide in Rwanda?
A) Jan Egeland
B) Boutros Boutros-Ghali
C) Roméo Dallaire
D) Kofi Annan
- 28. What was the primary method of killing in Rwanda?
A) Guns
B) Bombs
C) Gas chambers
D) Machetes
- 29. What term does Power use to describe individuals who risked their lives to save others during genocides?
A) Upstanders
B) Heroes
C) Rescuers
D) Defenders
- 30. How does Power characterize the US government's approach to genocide prevention?
A) Focused on economic solutions
B) Prioritizing diplomatic relations
C) Reactive rather than proactive
D) Consistently interventionist
- 31. Which institution does Power credit with eventually taking action in Bosnia?
A) The Organization of American States
B) NATO
C) The African Union
D) The European Union
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