violence and reconciliation

7/27/2019 Violence and Reconciliation

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M E L I S S A P L A T H

Violence and Reconciliation


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Conceptual Argument

Theoretical Ties between Violence andReconciliation

Practical Ties between Violence and Reconciliation Case Study: The Rwandan Genocide

The Bigger Picture


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Conceptual Argument

Legitimization of violence and reconciliation related,often directly

Both theoretically and in practice


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Theoretical Ties

What is reconciliation?

Both aprocess and a goal

Political Reconciliation:

Based on the ideas of Andrew Schaap (2006)

Understands the political as the moment or potential withinpolitics when the notion of a we comes to be articulated

strives to achieve a we between former enemies, allowing themto reconstitute former violence and current conflict

achievement of this we is not certain, but merely a politicalpotential, engendering this action with the added risk ofvulnerability


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Theoretical Ties

Schmitt: the political can only be determined byfinding and defining specifically political categoriesand in the distinctions between these categories, to

which actions may ultimately be linked

The ultimate category and distinction is that of friend andenemy

Violence legitimized in this friend/enemy distinction

The enemy only exists when there is at least the potential, in

extreme cases, for armed conflict

If this potential is never reached, or ceases to exist, then thepolitical is never achieved or is terminated


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Theoretical Ties

Reconciliation also legitimized and undertakenthrough this friend/enemy distinction

Schaap: reconciliation through the re-conception of thefriend/enemy distinction

re-definition of who belongs in friend category and who in theenemy category

Yet, important into that there still must be a defined enemy(Schmitt: no politics without enemy)


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Theoretical Ties

Foucault: Biopower

Power justified through an emphasis on protection of life,instead of threat of death

However, when groups are identified that threaten this

life/nation, violence legitimized to ensure their survival

Schaap: again, reformulation of conception of who toprotect and who is enemy Reconciliation legitimized through emphasis on life


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Practical Ties

Argument based on Rwandan case study

Basic tools for reconciliation: Truth and Reconciliation Commissions

Judicial Action Reparations

These tools inherently linked to the violence that necessitatesthem


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The Rwandan Genocide

Began on April 6, 1994 and lasted 100 days

Almost a million Tutsi and moderate Hutu killed

Began after the Presidents plane was shot down,

responsibility for which has never been established However, genocide was meticulously planned and

intentionally executed by government elite (azuku)


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The Rwandan Genocide

Characterized by: Mass participation in killings (umuganda)

Construction and interpretation of ethnic identity andinclusion and exclusion based on that identity

Use of propaganda Failure of international community to prevent or stop the

genocide

Legitimization for violence based on:

Internally: threat to power (Arusha accords, RPF, internationalcalls for democracy/power sharing)

Publically: threat to Rwandan (Hutu) population

Characterization of Tutsi and moderate Hutu as the enemy


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Genocide Reconciliation

Mass participation in

killings Construction ofethnic

identity

Use of propaganda (RPF,

Ibyitso) Failure of international

community to intervene

Mass participation in

reconciliation (gacaca) Construction ofnational

identity

Use of propaganda

(ingando) Presence of international

community

Practical Ties


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The Bigger Picture

ViolenceEnd to

ViolenceReconciliation


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The Bigger Picture

Violence

End toViolence

Reconciliation

End toReconciliation

violence and reconciliation

Documents