DECODING
DICTATORS
The Ukrainian Institute and the creative agency Bickerstaff.932 have developed a project for monitoring genocidal rhetoric – the Genocide Speech Monitor. This AI tool facilitates the assessment of public statements by leaders of various countries, focusing on their use of language that may advocate for, imply, or warn of genocidal actions.
Ukrainian Institute
The project is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine and once again demonstrates the cyclical nature of history:
In 1932, Stalin stated, “If we do not start correcting the situation in Ukraine, we may lose Ukraine.” These were not just words; they were followed by specific actions – a man-made famine in the territory of Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of over 4 million Ukrainians and the loss of 1 million unborn.
90 years later, on February 21, 2022, we hear from Putin – “modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, by Bolshevik, communist Russia”. Three days later, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Andrew Beckwith, Editor at JHEPGC, Associate Editor in Galaxies, and Visiting Professor in Chongqing University, Houston, USA, reflects on the project, stating, “The Russians wield genocide like a sword. It's unsettling. Hybrid narrative warfare that bites. This has been their modus operandi for over 300 years. It's painful to witness, but a profound understanding of history is crucial.”
Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, about the goals of the informational project: “Honoring the 90th anniversary of the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine, we tell the world the truth about this tragedy, its precursors, and consequences. Genocide does not come suddenly; it is planned and systematic terror, accompanied by the genocidal rhetoric of its ideologues. We created the Genocide Speech Monitor – a practical tool for foreign audiences that allows tracking such rhetoric in the context of the Holodomor as well as current events.”
Natalia Silenska, a journalist from Slovakia and an enthusiast in Foreign Affairs & Eastern Europe, remarks, “Just like in Stalin's case, Putin has chosen death, pain, and suffering as his legacy. My country has unfortunately fallen victim to Russian propaganda, and many struggle to discern truth from lies. This project is a vital initiative to combat narratives that bring death and ensure history does not repeat itself.”
Every tragedy has its own identifiable indicators. In the case of genocide, it's the words of dictators and government officials that can indicate their future intentions. “We can draw clear parallels between the rhetoric and actions of the Kremlin in 1932-1933 and today. This unpunished evil has returned to Ukraine. With this project, we urge other countries to pay attention to the statements of their leaders and the leaders of neighboring countries,” explains Mariia Kochurenko, strategist at Bickerstaff.932 – a Ukrainian creative agency involved in the development and implementation of the project on behalf of the Ukrainian Institute.
Additionally, the website allows for the analysis of the level of genocidal rhetoric in any statement up to 12,000 words – for example, a speech or public statement by a country leader.
The tool is completely free and available for use in all countries around the world. Future plans include expanding its functionality so that artificial intelligence can analyze public information from open sources in real time and detect genocidal rhetoric in the words of country leaders.
Jason Kancylarz, Expert on Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Balkans, and MA Graduate of Diplomatische Akademie Wien, affirms, “In today's world of rampant online disinformation, political extremism, and genocidal rhetoric, the Genocide Speech Monitor is an indispensable platform that will undoubtedly benefit future researchers and concerned global citizens.”
The informational project was developed by the Ukrainian Institute in collaboration with the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide, creative agency Bickerstaff.932, and software development studio hidden hint.
Holodomor, man-made famine that convulsed the Soviet republic of Ukraine from 1932 to 1933, peaking in the late spring of 1933. The origins of the famine lay in the decision by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to collectivize agriculture in 1929. Teams of Communist Party agitators forced peasants to relinquish their land, personal property, and sometimes housing to collective farms, and they deported so-called kulaks—wealthier peasants—as well as any peasants who resisted collectivization altogether.
In spring 1933 death rates in Ukraine spiked. Between 1931 and 1934 at least 5 million people perished of hunger all across the U.S.S.R. Among them, according to a study conducted by a team of Ukrainian demographers, were at least 3.9 million Ukrainians.