Genocide is a research area that focuses on the systematic and deliberate extermination of a specific group of people based on their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or other defining characteristic. This extreme form of violence is often perpetrated by governments or other powerful groups as a means of asserting or maintaining power, territory, or ideology. Research in this area seeks to understand the causes, consequences, and dynamics of genocide, as well as to develop strategies for prevention and intervention. Topics of study may include the historical roots of genocide, the psychology of perpetrators and victims, the role of propaganda and dehumanization, the legal and ethical implications of genocide, and the long-term impacts on survivors and societies.