Forcible displacement transforms cultures and can even lead to their destruction. Beginning with the origins of the human species millions of years ago and ending up in our present day era, this book analyses examples of forcible displacement in order to examine the crime in its many different forms. The legal contours of the crime receive a comprehensive treatment, including the experience of the international tribunals and decades of scholarly work in the area. The authors suggest that a paradigm shift is needed in order to bring development-induced displacement into the mainstream discourse on forcible displacement. The book concludes with a proposal for a new convention for the prevention and punishment of the crime of forcible displacement.