Post Genocide Rwanda: A Better Alternative to Prevent the Recurrence of Violence

Martina De Donno

doi:10.22151/politikon.18.7

Authors

Martina De Donno University of Bologna

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.18.7

Keywords:

Rwanda, genocide, violence, civil war, power-sharing, democratization

Abstract

M. D. Toft has argued that rebel military victories, that put an end to civil war, results in a higher likelihood of enduring peace and democratization. This research paper explains that, prima facie, this assumption could be the most desired outcome in order to stop violence, but in the long-term it is unlikely to be effective, specially in Rwanda. The 'Rwandan path to democracy', and the umpteenth construction of the identities in this country indeed could be the cause of possible future violence, and not the solution to it. A full respect of the logic of power-sharing and a genuine understanding of the identities instead represent the better alternative to construct a better Rwanda. Kaufmann (1996) stated that 'solutions to ethnic wars do not depend on their causes'. This paper will prove that he is wrong.

Author Biography

Martina De Donno, University of Bologna

Martina De Donno, 23, is an Italian graduate student majoring in Political Science, minoring in Diplomacy and International Affairs at the University of Bologna, Italy. She will graduate cum laude in July 2012 with a M.A. thesis in Theory of International Relations, with Prof. M. Cesa of Johns Hopkins University SAIS. In 2010, she obtained her B.A. in International Studies cum laude at the same university. Her academic performance allowed her to pursuit her interests at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Toulouse and at the University of California, Riverside, where she was able to succeed with a GPA of 4.0, and she was granted the Dean's Academic Distinction Award. She has recently attended a security conference in West Point, U.S. Military Academy. Her academic interests include security studies, conflict resolution, European Union government and politics.