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Henry Kissinger, Cambodia, and the “War Criminal” Charge: From Shawcross to Hitchens
20 February 2023, 6:00 pm–7:30 pm
This event is free.
Event Information
Open to
- All
Availability
- Yes
Cost
- Free
Organiser
-
UCL Institute of the Americas
Location
-
IAS Forum, G17 Ground FloorSouth WingGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BT
The charge that Henry Kissinger is a war criminal for his role in the bombing and invasion of Cambodia has persisted since the early 1970s. In 1979, in an influential book titled Sideshow, journalist William Shawcross drew on documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act to suggest that Kissinger (and Nixon) were partly responsible for the genocide that engulfed Cambodia after 1975. This talk discusses the lasting influence of these and similar charges, including their resurrection by Christopher Hitchens in his 2001 book, The Trial of Henry Kissinger—and charts Kissinger’s vehement reactions and counterattacks. Questions from the audience will follow the talk.
An event organised with kind support from the UCL Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS).
About the Speaker
Professor Barbara Keys
Chair of U.S. and International History at Durham University
Her books include Reclaiming American Virtue: The Human Rights Revolution of the 1970s and (as editor) The Ideals of Global Sport: From Peace to Human Rights. She is currently writing a book on how Henry Kissinger crafted and defended his reputation over the last half-century.
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