In this episode, we sat down with Dirk Moses, Anne and Bernard Spitzer Professor of International Relations at the City College of New York and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Genocide Research. Dirk explores common misconceptions in contemporary discussions about atrocity crimes and examines how these misunderstandings, both intentional and unintentional, impact international response. He also discusses how these misconceptions increasingly impact both practitioners and academic discourse, particularly following the recent escalations of the crises in Gaza and Ukraine. Dirk highlights how the recognition of genocides is increasingly obscured by geopolitical interests, which in turn impacts victim communities worldwide.