Case Study Rwanda Genocide Essay - 1563 Words

Case Study: Rwanda The conflict in Rwanda is probably the most well known and documented case of genocide since the holocaust. Through years of discrimination based on ethnic and class based differences, the population of Rwanda has been constantly entrenched in periods of fighting, refuge and genocide. In the following essay we will explore the background of the conflict. Specifically the historical implications, the parties involved the reasons for the fighting and the result of conflict. Next we will try to investigate some of the theories related to the conflict and discuss views of prominent authors who have attempted to define the reasoning behind this most incomprehensible conflict. Historical Background The origin of the†¦show more content†¦The identity cards remained in use into the post-independence era, and unfortunately also provided central assistance to the crazed militias who would later carry out the atrocities on the Rwandan population. After World War II, the trend of decolonization was sweeping Africa and the pacific and it was then that the Tutsis would lead a campaign for independence from the Belgians (Cook, 2006). With the opportunity for independence, Rwandans like in any other country fighting for independence at the time, divided into parties vying for the lead role in government. While the Tutsis historically had privilege to this position, before decolonization occurred the Belgians began switching out Tutsi representatives for Hutus out of fear that a majority Hutu party would come out victorious (Rwanda, 2008). The Belgian suspicion of a Hutu overthrow came to fruition when the Hutus took control of Rwanda in 1959 (Rwanda, 2008). After the overthrow, vengeful Hutu militias murdered about 15,000 Tutsis, and more than 100,000 Tutsis fled to bordering countries, primarily Uganda and Burundi (Cook, 2006). The Tutsis remaining in Rwanda were stripped of their possessions and positions of power under the re gime of Juvà ©nal Habyarimana, who came to power in 1973 (January, 2007). Background Post-Independence/Parties During Habyarimana’s rule as president an estimated oneShow MoreRelatedHumanitarian Intervention Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pagescrime against humanity. (Humanitarian, 2008) Realism explains that humanitarian intervention came about during the genocide in Bosnia but not in Rwanda because even though it might have been the correct moral action to take, intervention in Rwanda was not in the national interest of other states. Also, there was no humanitarian intervention in the Rwanda genocide because the genocide was not explicitly known about. (Hintjens, 1999) On the other hand, humanitarian intervention occurred in BosniaRead MoreMedia Representation of the Rwandan Genocide1202 Words   |  5 Pagesexample of the Rwanda Genocide my argument is that representation is constitutive of the ways in which we understand the world and of the hierarchy that currently exists within mainstream media. As (Michael J. Shapiro, 1989) discussed ‘The reason for looking at representat ional practices in relation to texts, language and modes of interpretation is because it is through these practices that ideas about International Relations are produced’. Through the media coverage on the Rwanda Genocide I investigateRead MoreThe Genocide Of The Rwandan Genocide1421 Words   |  6 PagesThe Rwanda Genocide was an unfortunate case where thousands of deaths could have been prevented, but because of irresponsibility and selfishness of global governments’ innocent lives were lost. 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