Massacre at My Lai

Massacre at My Lai

1. Key Terms

   • Agentic State
   • Legitimacy of authority

2. 1968 Vietnam War

3. Applying it:

   • Milgram's findings helped to explain the crime in the notorious war at My Lai.
   • As many as 504 unarmed civilians were killed by American soldiers.
   • Women were gang-raped
   • People were shot as they emerged from their homes, with their hands in the air.
   • Soldiers blew up buildings, burnt villages to the ground and killed all the animals.
   • Only one soldier faced charges and was found guilty.
     • Lt William Calley
     • Defence was the same as the Nazi officers at the Nuremberg trials; that he was only doing his duties by following orders.

4. Q: Explain the behaviour of the soldiers in terms of agentic state and legitimacy of authority.