Genocide involves mass killings of a small group of people. Cultural Genocide involves the extermination of a person’s culture. Two groups often clash over land. One group may see itself as superior, and thus has the right over the land of another group. This conflict is evident in Argentina’s conquest of Patagonia Desert by the Mapuche Indians who inhabited the region. The conflict resulted in the execution by the Argentinians of a genocide, which saw them persecuting and killing Mapuche people and their culture. The notion that one group can kill another in order to take over more land is heavily emphasized in Philip K. Dick’s science-fiction novel, The Man in the High Castle. Dick’s novel examines conflict between allies in times when they no more need each other. Dick uses Japan and Germany to illustrate this point, looking at the post-World War II worlds in which Japan has won the war. The Patagonia Desert genocide and Dick’s analysis in The Man in the High Castle show the greed that comes from victory in conflict. The greed-driven genocides in Argentina or The Man in the High Castle have resulted in a loss in culture and humanity. These events can have unintended consequences for all groups, regardless of their friendship. The Patagonia Desert genocidal massacre or as Richard O. Perry from South American history refers, “General Julio A. Roca’s Conquest of the Desert 1878-1879” is often a historical conflict that is viewed in the hope of justifying the most horrific of actions. Sarah Warren, anthropologist and sociologist, claims that Argentinian scholars present the conquest within the context of a dispute over control over the Patagonia Dry. However, this is often distorted to reflect the nature of Mapuche Indians who inhabited these areas. Chile saw the potential for economic prosperity at the southern tip South America’s Patagonia in the 1800’s. Argentina, along with European powers like England, France and England, also came to the same conclusion and began a political battle to determine who had the right. Perry’s political discourse created tensions between Chile, Argentina and the region. This increased conflict which led to genocide and violent conquest. The genocide had two main goals: the extermination of indigenous peoples and the expansion of Argentina’s borders. These goals were achieved by Argentina, who killed and forced thousands of indigenous people from the region. Alfred Hasbrouck is the author of Spanish South America. He claims that between November 1802 and March 1883 “three hundred, sixty-four Indian soldiers were killed or taken prisoner, while more than 3000 were driven off their land.” The Mapuche Indians are now facing the consequences of their victory. Argentina altered the South American landscape in a way that created tensions and genocide. Argentina’s conquest of the desert created tensions that lasted for decades. Dick also examines the greed of Mapuche survivors who were able to infiltrate governments when they had the chance to acquire more land or control. After seizing control of the United States from Japan and Germany, and making America’s homeland less secure than ever before, Germany finally decides to stop sharing their land with Japan. A conversation takes place between Captain R. Wegener (also known as Mr. Tagomi) and Mr. Baynes about Operation Dandelion, the German Reich’s military plan. It has “the basic purpose… a huge nuclear arrack in Japan’s Home Islands, without any advance warning.” Operation Dandelion paints the German Reich as a hostile entity to the Americans and Japanese. Germany justified additional mass murder and genocide after the Holocaust. This was to increase their power and to control more lands and peoples. Although it hasn’t been implemented yet, the idea of this operation continues to create tension in society by furthering the divide between Germans as well as Japanese. The men were attacked by “a group SD men from the downstairs lobby… who are trying to take control of the building.” Despite the fact they were dependent on each other for victory, the German’s continue to behave in ways that promote the belief that Germans have superiority over Japanese. In the way that others act and the shifts in attitudes, the consequences of Dick’s actions continue to affect the society. Japanese people are put in a defensive role to prevent obliteration by Germany’s social hierarchy.
The Argentinian conquests in the Patagonia Desert and Operation Dandelion by the Germans in The Man in the High Castle were met with great controversy by the group responsible for the atrocities. Many Argentinians see the conquest of desert as a means of civilizing the region. The Argentinian government works to change this perspective. It has “shifted from a politique de extermination et assimilation to one where recognition has created space” for racial identifiability as indigenous, which has led to growth and movement away form the destruction that has occurred in the past. Although Argentina recognizes the Mapuche people, this does not mean that the Mapuche will no longer be suffering from the effects of displacement and death. In the same way, despite the controversy surrounding the conquest, there are still differences of opinion between the Germans and Argentinians regarding Operation Dandelion. The men question Mr. Baynes about who isn’t supporting the operation. He tells them that it was SS General Heydrich. The German government is divided. One side supports German empire and overall control. The other believes in the value of international cooperation. It also wants to maintain allies. You can see that genocide has negative effects on both the victim and perpetrator of the crime. These groups are often unstable and can cause havoc in the country’s politics.
Genocide can have lasting negative consequences for all cultures and societies. Genocide is a mass destruction of culture. This can lead to the death of a large number of people. Genocide can also have implications on the group that is committing it. This is because not everyone in a given group believes and supports the same goal of genocide against another culture and/or people. Argentina created divisions by committing genocide at the Patagonia Dry, causing tension between the Mapuche surviving Mapuche who suffered the loss of their ancestors, as well between the factions Argentinians who supported or detracted the conquest. The idea that another conquest in The Man in the High Castle could be made in the future also contributes to tensions between Japan’s and Germany’s previously cooperative countries. The German Reich is also being challenged over whether Operation Dandelion will prove beneficial and productive for Germany and the whole world. Genocide and its devastating effects on history by eradicating culture have created lasting tensions that will continue to haunt the world and those who live there.
