Balkan History: Pre-Genocide and Genocide

The conversion of Bosnian people from Eastern Orthodox Christianity to Islam during the Ottoman Empire's rule (1463-1878) led to the formation of a significant Muslim population in Bosnia.

The region encompassing Serbia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, known for its diverse ethnicities and historical conflicts.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, on June 28, 1914, which sparked the outbreak of World War I.

Serbian nationalists, with the support of the Eastern Orthodox Church, successfully overthrew Ottoman rule in 1908, leading to the creation of the Serbian nation.

A historical event that marked the beginning of the Ottoman Empire's dominance in the Balkans, leading to significant political and religious changes in the region; it also marked the subjugation of the Serbian people.

The process of forcefully removing a specific ethnic group from a region, often involving violence and persecution.

The collective historical memory of Serbs about their persecution by the Ottoman Empire.

The creation of Yugoslavia after World War I aimed to unify various Balkan ethnicities under a single country, with Serbia playing a leading role.

After World War II, Yugoslavia fell under Soviet influence, leading to the suppression of religious and ethnic differences under Tito's rule.

The breakup of Yugoslavia in 1989 was fueled by rising nationalist movements, resulting in the creation of independent Balkan countries.

Slobodan Milošević, Serbian leader in the 1980s, promoted aggressive Serbian nationalism, leading to conflicts with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

The belief that Bosnian Muslims were responsible for past Ottoman atrocities against Serbs, fueling Serbian aggression towards them.

The Serbian campaign against Bosnian Muslims was driven by a desire for revenge against the Ottoman Empire and a perception of Bosnian Muslims as a threat.

The process of imposing colonial rule on a territory, often involving control of land, resources, and people. This can lead to forced assimilation, cultural destruction, and the exploitation of the colonized population for the benefit of the colonizer.

The systematic destruction of a group of people based on their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or other shared characteristic. This involved the deliberate and organized killing of members of the targeted group, often through violence, persecution, and deprivation.

The division of people into distinctive categories based on perceived differences, often related to physical characteristics, ancestry, or cultural practices. This can be used to justify discrimination and unequal treatment.

The belief that one race is superior to others, often used to justify imperialism, slavery, and discrimination. This ideology often relies on pseudoscientific justifications.

The attempt to force a colonized population to adopt the language, culture, and social norms of the colonizer, often leading to the suppression of the original cultural traditions.

Using violence to control a population and maintain power. This can include physical violence, sexual violence, and the threat of violence.

The psychological impact on children born as a result of rape, often involving confusion, anxiety, and feelings of shame. This can stem from the mother’s trauma, secrets surrounding their birth, and the stigma associated with being a 'marked child'.

A systematic campaign of hate speech and propaganda designed to demonize and dehumanize the Tutsi population, blaming them for Rwanda's social and economic problems.

The systematic extermination of the Tutsi people in Rwanda, carried out by Hutu extremists over a period of 100 days in 1994.

A Rwandan radio station that played a crucial role in spreading hate propaganda and inciting violence against the Tutsi population.

A series of commandments that were disseminated during the Rwandan Genocide, outlining the moral obligation to killing Tutsi people.

The belief that Tutsi women were morally corrupt and dangerous, used as a justification for their targeting during the Rwandan Genocide.

The act of using propaganda to portray a group of people as 'the other,' often leading to hatred and violence.

The use of religious rhetoric to fuel violence and justify the Rwandan Genocide.

The systematic violence carried out against the Hutu population in the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide, often perpetrated by Tutsi-led militias.

The Rwandan Tutsi people were favored by the Belgian colonizers during the 1926-1945 period due to the belief that they physically resembled Europeans more than the Hutu. This advantage translated to better access to education, religion, economic opportunities, and government positions.

The Belgian colonizers introduced identity cards that classified Rwandans based on their ethnicity (Hutu or Tutsi) and occupation. The cards generally listed Tutsi people as ranchers and Hutu people as farmers, further reinforcing the notion of Tutsi superiority.

In the post-World War II period, Belgium shifted its focus from supporting the Tutsi to favoring the Hutu population. This change was driven by concerns about a growing Hutu rebellion and a desire to secure their own colonial interests.

The first Hutu rebellion in 1959 resulted in a significant massacre of Tutsis, with thousands killed and many more forced to flee to neighboring countries.

After Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the Hutus seized power, reversing the previously established hierarchy. This shift led to a period of Hutu dominance and systematic discrimination against Tutsis.

In 1973, Tutsi people were systematically excluded from universities and government positions, limiting their access to opportunities and effectively marginalizing them within Rwandan society.

From 1975 to 1994, Rwanda was under a one-party rule system, with the Hutu-dominated party solely controlling political power. This political structure further intensified the Hutu dominance and suppressed any opposition.

The rise of Hutu Power in the early 1990s triggered an extreme nationalist movement. This movement promoted aggressive hostility towards Tutsis and laid the groundwork for the Rwandan genocide that followed.

The term used to describe children conceived through rape during the Rwandan Genocide, reflecting their traumatic origins and the societal challenges they faced.

The societal rejection and discrimination experienced by children born of rape in Rwanda, due to patriarchal norms and the association of their fathers with the perpetrators of the genocide, pushing them into social isolation.

The denial of basic rights, including citizenship, education, and employment, faced by children born of rape in Rwanda due to their stigmatized status and lack of legal recognition.

The deeply ingrained sense of self-hatred and emotional suffering experienced by children born of rape in Rwanda, stemming from the internalization of societal labels and the trauma of their origins.

The Rwandan genocide involved women perpetrators, including powerful figures who played prominent roles in planning and carrying out the atrocities.

A powerful woman involved in the Rwandan genocide, she was the widow of the Hutu president and played a key role in establishing and training the Hutu militia responsible for the massacre.

A woman in the Rwandan government who was charged with conspiracy to commit genocide, highlighting the involvement of women in leadership positions during the atrocities.