image sourced from original article at Mainstream media outlets recently highlighted the International Association of Genocide Scholars as a leading authority after it declared that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide. However, the association's membership is open to a wide range of individuals, including activists, museum professionals, and students, with minimal vetting beyond paying dues. Resolutions, such as the one on Gaza, require only a small percentage of member participation to pass, raising questions about the group's representativeness and expertise.
Of the association's 600 members, only 129 voted on the Gaza resolution, with 110 supporting it. Some members have little academic background, and a significant portion are from Iraq. The association recently removed new members and restricted access to its directory after a surge of registrations, but its vetting process remains largely unchanged. Critics argue that the group may not be composed primarily of genocide scholars, despite media portrayals.
