Summary Of Scott Straus 'Radio Machete'

The article, “What Is the Relationship Between Hate Radio and Violence? Rethinking Rwandas “Radio Machete””, by Scott Straus seeks to address the beliefs held that the primary driver and contribution of genocide was the extensive effects of radio. Located in East Africa, Rwanda is known for its diverse culture, wildlife, and the Rwandan genocide. This article focus is on the violent acts that took place in 1994 by the government and military officials against the Tutsi population. Various claims have been made about the radio media effects in the Rwandan genocide. Several citizens of Rwanda believed that the radio broadcasts rooted listeners to hate, fight back, and fear Tutsis. The study conducted in this article emphases on whether radio broadcasts particularly “hate radio” played a role in the violent acts committed in Rwanda and if “hate radio” should be held accountable for
In addition, a survey was conducted on perpetrators of the Rwanda genocide. Straus concluded that “the bulk of violence appears to have occurred before the most inflammatory broadcasts aired; most perpetrators in a survey say face-to-face mobilization and fear, not radio, led them to join attacks; and, when asked, no respondent identified radio as the primary determinant of the genocide. Each piece of evidence has limits” (Straus, 2007, p.630). Overall, it can be said that hate radio was not the primary cause of the genocide. Straus stated that “radio emboldened hard-liners and reinforced face-to-face mobilization, which helped those who advocated violence assert dominance and carry out the genocide” (Straus, 2007, p.630). The study conducted by Straus determined that although hate radio encouraged perpetrators to violently act out, it should not be blamed for the genocide and other factors should be taken into