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Bearing witness: Introducing the Perceived Mass Atrocities Dataset (PMAD)

Author

Listed:
  • Collin J Meisel

    (Frederick S Pardee Institute for International Futures at the University of Denver, USA)

  • Jonathan D Moyer

    (Frederick S Pardee Institute for International Futures at the University of Denver, USA
    Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, USA)

  • Austin S Matthews

    (Department of Political Science, East Carolina University, USA)

  • Oliver Kaplan

    (Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, USA)

  • Ruth Byrnes

    (Frederick S Pardee Institute for International Futures at the University of Denver, USA)

  • Kerent Benjumea

    (Frederick S Pardee Institute for International Futures at the University of Denver, USA)

  • Phoebe Cribb

    (Frederick S Pardee Institute for International Futures at the University of Denver, USA)

  • Collin Van Son

    (Frederick S Pardee Institute for International Futures at the University of Denver, USA)

Abstract

The risk factors and consequences of atrocities are deeply interconnected with questions of intra- and interstate stability and conflict, economic development, colonialism, and gender equality, as well as atrocity crime monitoring and prevention. However, there is no globally comparable measure of lethal and less-lethal atrocities. The Perceived Mass Atrocities Dataset (PMAD) is a country-year measure of atrocities with accompanying narratives. Built to support the US Congress’s Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018, PMAD enables the systematic comparison of the occurrence and magnitude of seven atrocity types, in addition to group-perpetrated violence against women and LGBTQIA+ groups, with aggregate atrocities indices for 196 countries from 2018 to 2022. PMAD offers a foundation for quantitative studies of atrocities as well as more qualitative, process-focused research of lethal and less-lethal violence with its single, divisible framework. The PMAD data highlight several regions where analysis of atrocities using data on only lethal atrocities would be inadequate, especially Central and Eastern Asia. The data can also facilitate research into the relationships between mass atrocities and gender discrimination, neopatrimonialism, and political polarization.

Suggested Citation

  • Collin J Meisel & Jonathan D Moyer & Austin S Matthews & Oliver Kaplan & Ruth Byrnes & Kerent Benjumea & Phoebe Cribb & Collin Van Son, 2025. "Bearing witness: Introducing the Perceived Mass Atrocities Dataset (PMAD)," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 62(3), pages 799-811, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:joupea:v:62:y:2025:i:3:p:799-811
    DOI: 10.1177/00223433241249333
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