Ideology: Comparison Between The Holocaust And The Genocide In Rwanda
THE IDEOLOGICAL BLUEPRINT OF GENOCIDE:
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE HOLOCAUST AND THE
RWANDAN GENOCIDE
Introduction
The Oxford dictionary defines ‘ideology’ as “a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy”. The definition emphasizes the role of ideology as the basis of economic or political policy. But a closer look at the twentieth century will reveal instances where ideology has played an even more significant role. Genocide. It makes one wonder what kind of a system of ideas and ideals can prompt man to kill man? What kind of situations lead to the massive belief in ideology resulting in atrocities of the kind witnessed during the Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda? …show more content…
The Genocide in Rwanda
In the beginning of the 20th century, Rwanda was a part of East Africa under German control.
After World War I, it was passed on to the Belgians who controlled the country from 1924 to
1962. The demographic composition of Rwanda basically consists of three groups: the Hutu majority followed by the Tutsi and the Twa. A history of discrimination resulted in the Tutsi being receivers of benefits and privileges leaving the Hutu feeling more than oppressed. This built up anger and discontent exploded in November 1959, where a revolt by the Hutu majority dethroned the then King Kigri V and resulted in a series of ethnic clashes. As a result, thousands of Tutsi’s were either killed or forced to flee from Rwanda. Subsequently, Rwanda was decolonized and declared independent in 1962 with Gregoire Kayibanda as it’s democratically
1|Page
elected president. In 1973, a coup lead by Major Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, overthrew
Kayibanda and formed a single party dictatorship. The pro Hutu regime took a series of …show more content…
R. Lemarchand, Disconnecting the threads: Rwanda and the Holocaust reconsidered,
Journal of Genocide Research ,Vol. 4, Iss. 4, 2002
2. A. J. Hain, The Rwandan Genocide: A case of Ethnic Conflict?, Theories of Conflict and
Violence, Dr. Elise FéronBrussels School of International Studies,17 January 2011
3. D. Forges, A. Liebhafsky & Human Rights Watch & Federation internationale des droits de l 'homme, Leave none to tell the story : genocide in Rwanda, Human Rights Watch ;
International Federation of Human Rights, 1999
4. T. George, Smearing a Hero, The Washington Post, 10 May 2006
5. Rwanda: How the genocide happened, BBC News, 7 May 2011
6. Y. Bauer, Holocaust and Genocide Today
7. The Rwandan Genocide: How It Was Prepared, Human Rights Watch, April 2006
8. B. Kiernan, Hitler, Pol Pot, and Hutu Power: Distinguishing Themes of Genocidal
Ideology, The Holocaust and the UN Outreach Programme
9. A. D. Forges, The Ideology of Genocide, Issue: A Journal of Opinion , Vol. 23, No. 2,
Rwanda (1995), pp.
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE HOLOCAUST AND THE
RWANDAN GENOCIDE
Introduction
The Oxford dictionary defines ‘ideology’ as “a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy”. The definition emphasizes the role of ideology as the basis of economic or political policy. But a closer look at the twentieth century will reveal instances where ideology has played an even more significant role. Genocide. It makes one wonder what kind of a system of ideas and ideals can prompt man to kill man? What kind of situations lead to the massive belief in ideology resulting in atrocities of the kind witnessed during the Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda? …show more content…
The Genocide in Rwanda
In the beginning of the 20th century, Rwanda was a part of East Africa under German control.
After World War I, it was passed on to the Belgians who controlled the country from 1924 to
1962. The demographic composition of Rwanda basically consists of three groups: the Hutu majority followed by the Tutsi and the Twa. A history of discrimination resulted in the Tutsi being receivers of benefits and privileges leaving the Hutu feeling more than oppressed. This built up anger and discontent exploded in November 1959, where a revolt by the Hutu majority dethroned the then King Kigri V and resulted in a series of ethnic clashes. As a result, thousands of Tutsi’s were either killed or forced to flee from Rwanda. Subsequently, Rwanda was decolonized and declared independent in 1962 with Gregoire Kayibanda as it’s democratically
1|Page
elected president. In 1973, a coup lead by Major Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, overthrew
Kayibanda and formed a single party dictatorship. The pro Hutu regime took a series of …show more content…
R. Lemarchand, Disconnecting the threads: Rwanda and the Holocaust reconsidered,
Journal of Genocide Research ,Vol. 4, Iss. 4, 2002
2. A. J. Hain, The Rwandan Genocide: A case of Ethnic Conflict?, Theories of Conflict and
Violence, Dr. Elise FéronBrussels School of International Studies,17 January 2011
3. D. Forges, A. Liebhafsky & Human Rights Watch & Federation internationale des droits de l 'homme, Leave none to tell the story : genocide in Rwanda, Human Rights Watch ;
International Federation of Human Rights, 1999
4. T. George, Smearing a Hero, The Washington Post, 10 May 2006
5. Rwanda: How the genocide happened, BBC News, 7 May 2011
6. Y. Bauer, Holocaust and Genocide Today
7. The Rwandan Genocide: How It Was Prepared, Human Rights Watch, April 2006
8. B. Kiernan, Hitler, Pol Pot, and Hutu Power: Distinguishing Themes of Genocidal
Ideology, The Holocaust and the UN Outreach Programme
9. A. D. Forges, The Ideology of Genocide, Issue: A Journal of Opinion , Vol. 23, No. 2,
Rwanda (1995), pp.