Rwanda Genocide & Feminism Review Notes PDF

1. What was Rwandan Genocide? Do you think that the Hutus and Tutsis were destined to hate each other? Was the violence ethnic conflict unavoidable? How would Amartya Sen explain the Rwandan genocide? What insight would Dan Posner’s article add to your analysis? What were the historical grievanc...

1. What was Rwandan Genocide? Do you think that the Hutus and Tutsis were destined to hate each other? Was the violence ethnic conflict unavoidable? How would Amartya Sen explain the Rwandan genocide? What insight would Dan Posner’s article add to your analysis? What were the historical grievances that got mobilized to instigate violence? 9 Who was the instigator? In answering the questions, please make sure to mention specific facts that you have learned from the documentary Film. APRIL 1994, gov. Mobilized the Hutu people to kill tutsi neighbors ○ 1 million killed in 100 days ○ In 1990, exiled Tutsis started a war against Hutu regime of president Habyarimana after they were denied the right to return home ○ Government proceeded to spread anti-tutsi propaganda, calling them “enemies of the country” and “cockroaches that should be killed/” ○ April 1994, plane carrying president was shot down and then Hutus started killing ○ “How can you come and accuse us? You white guys, you Europeans destroyed millions of Africans” Yes unavoidable: Romeo said International community refused to take action 3 moths prior when informed of the oncoming genocide Not destined to hate each other ○ Terms Hutu Tutsi and Twa already existed before colonialism ○ Not seen as different ethnic groups- were simply terms to describe a hierarchy of people pre-colonialism All considered to be “Rwandan” because they fulfill characteristics to be an ethnic group- language, ethnicity, etc. ○ Europeans invented the 3 ethnic groups Considered them 3 different races Tutsis defined as closest to white Colonialism redefined idea of rwandans Ethnicities considered “Fake” Germans introduced racial theories Government post- belgian liberation excluded Tutsis from government and military poeer 2nd film: Feminist wave growing in south Korea Women believe there is hostility towards feminism because women are gaining more power Fire femi- actions Gov was trying to scrap program for gender equality in order to “protect” women Catalyst for movement: woman killed in 2016 near train station because “she was a woman” President argues that discrimination is an “individual” issue South KOrea is highly patriotic Men think that by leveling playing field for women, men become unequal 4b movement: ○ No to heterosexual marriage ○ No childbirth ○ No dating ○ No heterosexual sex RECITATION 12/5/24 NOTES EXAM REVIEW Sen discusses two sets of arguments about causes of violence Huntington's clash of civilizations thesis ○ Argues that divisions among civilians make them prone to clash with each other and increase cultural conflicts within and across countries ○ Approach to ethnic differences can create violence Political economic arguments ○ Sees poverty and inequality as root of violence Sen on violence ○ Says these explanations are too simplistic ○ ETHNIC CONFLICTS DO NOT IMMEDIATELY LEAD TO VIOLENCE ○ NEITHER DOES ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION ○ WHEN THESE TWO THINGS ARE MIXED WITH HISTORICAL GRIEVANCES AND A SENSE OF INJUSTICE IT BECOMES A COMBUSTIBLE MIX There must be an “instigator” who mobilize a group to attack another group ○ Sen argues that colonizers left a bad legacy with “divide and rule” policy ○ How does Rawandan genocide relate to sen? Instigated by hutu majority and prehistoric grievances by Tutsis They intentionally created differences Colonizers instigators? Can make argument for both ○ Sen used example of Kolkata  High poverty and economic inequality and ethnic differences But, no violence Why? Mixed communities (not segregated) Posner ○ Why do some factors remain prevalent and some others salient? ○ Looks at zambia and Malawi ○ Chewas and Tumbukas see each other ethic brethren (zambia) ○ In Malawi, they’re adversaries ○ Why? ○ Size of groups matter!!! ○ Zambia both groups were small, not worth effort of political mobilization ○ When there's no political gain in pitching ethnic groups against one another, ethnic conflicts do not occur ○ How does rawandan genocide relate? When president H took over, he did opposite of that b/c it was political gain for Hutu nationalists Chenoweth and Marks ○ Progress on women’s rights getting backlash ○ Autocrats fear women Mussolini, Napoleon, etc Want women to stay at home ○ They see women as a threat Amartya Sen (Talks about violence) Discusses two causes of violence ○ HUNTINGTON`Clash of civilizations thesis Argues that divisions among civilians cause make them prone to clash with each other ○ Political/economic argument Sees poverty and equality as root cause of violence Suffering and poverty can provoke violence ○ Disagrees with both ○ Argues that cultural and social factors AND the economy are all responsible for understanding violence ○ When both of the above theories are mixed WITH historical grievances (denied right to return home to Rwanda) and a sense of injustice gov calling them cockroaches and spreading anti- Tutsi propaganda), then there must be an instigator (gov) who mobilizes one group to attack another  Think of India case; ○ British colonial rule, separated the ethnic groups a lot ○ KALKATA CASE: Very high poverty and very ethnically diverse BUT very low crime, why? Voters organized around common interests BELGIAN LEGACY IN RWANDA Gave Tutsis majority power Created ID card system CHANDRA Skeptical that ethnic differences lead to conflict POSNER Why do only some cultural differences matter to politics? Looks at Malawi and Zambia ○ Both have Chewa and Tumbuka groups ZAMBIA ○ Both groups coexist peacefully ○ No violence Malawi ○ Groups don’t get along very well ○ High risk of hostility SAYS THAT THE SIZE OF EACH GROUP IN THE RESPECTIVE COUNTRY MATTERS ○ In Malawi, the Chewas and Tumbukas were very large ethnic groups compared to other groups in the country ○ In zambia, Chewas and Tumbukas were small compared to other ethnic groups, so not worth the political mobilization ○ when there’s no political gain in pitching people against others along ethnic lines, ethnic conflicts do not occur CHENOWETH AND MARKS Why autocrats fear women  Mass movements in which women participated extensively on the frontlines have been much more likely to succeed ○ (Power in numbers) Why do autocrats teach sex as a political issue?