The Dark Side of Numbers: The Role of Population Data Systems in Human Rights Abuses

Social Research, Summer, 2001 by William Seltzer, Margo Anderson

We define mesodata as statistical results presented at such a fine level of geographic disaggregation, whether in tabular or graphic form, that the results may be used in conducting field operations at the local level. Thus the line between macrodata and mesodata will depend in part on the size of the geographic units, the distribution of the target population among these units, and the intended operational uses. For example, census aggregates showing the number of people in a target population for an individual small village may be operationally useful, while similar data for a large city would need to be further broken down by tract, ward, or even block to be operationally useful.

Table 1 lists 10 cases where misuses of population data systems have been documented as associated with major human rights abuses or where documentation exists that statistical authorities attempted to further develop such data systems where such a misuse was highly likely. Since papers are available that describe each case listed (see table 1 for citations), no attempt to cover each case in detail will be attempted here. Instead, a few features of this body of experience will be highlighted.

TABLE 1. CONTEMPLATED OR ACTUAL MISUSE OF POPULATION DATA SYSTEMS AND
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

Place           Time Period      Intended            Data Systems
                                 Victims               Involved

Germany          1933-1945    Jews, Gypsies,           Numerous
                                and others
Poland           1939-1943         Jews           Primarily special
                                                       censuses
France           1940-1944         Jews        Population registration,
                                                   special censuses
Netherlands      1940-1944       Jews and             Population
                                 Gypsies         registration system
Norway           1942-1944         Jews             Special census
                                                     and proposed
                                                      population
                                                     registration
Romania          1941-1943       Jews and          1941 Population
                                 Gypsies                Census
United States      19th           Native          Special censuses,
                  Century       Americans        population registers
United States    1941-1945       Japanese            1940 Census
                                Americans
Soviet Union     1919-1939       Minority         Various population
                               populations             censuses
Rwanda             1994           Tutsi        Population registration

Place           Type of       Human Rights            Source
                 Data            Abuse

Germany         Macro,          Genocide          Seltzer (1998)
                 micro
Poland          Macro,      Genocide, Crimes      Seltzer (1998)
                 micro      against humanity
France          Macro,      Genocide, Crimes      Remond (1996);
                 micro      against humanity      Seltzer (1998)
Netherlands     Macro,      Genocide, Crimes      Seltzer (1998)
                 meso,      against humanity
                 micro
Norway          Macro,      Genocide, Crimes      Seltzer (1998);
                 micro      against humanity       Sobye (1998)
Romania         Macro,      Genocide, Crimes       Black (2001)
                 micro      against humanity
United States   Macro,     Forced migration,      Seltzer (1999)
                 micro    other serious crimes
United States   Macro,     Forced migration,        Seltzer and
                 meso       internment, and       Anderson (2000)
                            loss of property
Soviet Union    Macro,     Forced migration,        Blum (2000)
                 micro    other serious crimes
Rwanda           Micro      Genocide, Crimes     des Forges (1999)
                            against humanity

Note: The time periods and intended victims specified refer only to
those times and victims studied in the sources cited.