From Hope to Horror: Diplomacy and the Making of the Rwanda Genocide (Adst-dacor Diplomats and Diplomacy)

2020 Choice Outstanding Academic Title As deputy to the U.S. ambassador in Rwanda, Joyce E. Leader witnessed the tumultuous prelude to genocide—a period of political wrangling, human rights abuses, and many levels of ominous, ever-escalating violence. From Hope to Horror offers her insider’s account of the nation’s efforts to move toward democracy and peace and analyzes the challenges of conducting diplomacy in settings prone to—or engaged in—armed conflict. ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Leader traces the three-way struggle for control among Rwanda’s ethnic and regional factions. Each sought to shape democratization and peacemaking to its own advantage. The United States, hoping to encourage a peaceful transition, midwifed negotiations toward an accord. The result: a revolutionary blueprint for political and military power-sharing among Rwanda’s competing factions that met categorical rejection by the “losers” and a downward spiral into mass atrocities. Drawing on the Rwandan experience, Leader proposes ways diplomacy can more effectively avert the escalation of violence by identifying the unintended consequences of policies and emphasizing conflict prevention over crisis response. Compelling and expert, From Hope to Horror fills in the forgotten history of the diplomats who tried but failed to prevent a human rights catastrophe. As deputy to the U.S. ambassador in Rwanda, Joyce E. Leader witnessed the tumultuous prelude to genocide - a period of political wrangling, human rights abuses, and many levels of ominous, ever-escalating violence. From Hope to Horror offers her insider's account of the nation's efforts to move toward democracy and peace and analyzes the challenges of conducting diplomacy in settings prone to - or engaged in - armed conflict. Leader traces the three-way struggle for control among Rwanda's ethnic and regional factions. Each sought to shape democratization and peacemaking to its own advantage. The United States, hoping to encourage a peaceful transition, midwifed negotiations toward an accord. The result: a revolutionary blueprint for political and military power-sharing among Rwanda's competing factions that met categorical rejection by the "losers" and a downward spiral into mass atrocities. Drawing on the Rwandan experience, Leader proposes ways diplomacy can more effectively avert the escalation of violence by identifying the unintended consequences of policies and emphasizing conflict prevention over crisis response. Compelling and expert, From Hope to Horror fills in the forgotten history of the diplomats who tried but failed to prevent a human rights catastrophe. -- Provided by publisher Part 1. Rwanda's Struggle For Democracy And Peace, 1991-1994 -- Political Liberalization Takes Off -- War Intrudes -- Rights Abuses And Violence Sow Fear -- Opposition Parties Join A Coalition Government -- Peace Talks Begin And Cease-fire Takes Hold -- Democratization Flounders -- Turning Point: Adversaries In Kigali And Arusha Tackle Power Sharing -- Violence Stalks Democratization And Prospects For Peace -- The January From Hell: Diplomacy At A Crossroads -- Diplomats Undertake A Fact-finding Mission -- War Resumes -- A Second Chance For Peace -- Assignment-arusha Observer: The Setting -- Assignment-arusha Observer: The Negotiations -- The Dénouement: Arusha Peace Accords Signed -- Preparing To Implement The Arusha Accords -- Violence Plagues Implementation -- Implementation Stalls -- The Exodus -- Return To Rwanda -- Part 2. Why Diplomacy Failed To Prevent Mass Atrocities And Genocide -- Diplomatic Challenges We Failed To Anticipate -- Making Conflict Prevention A Foreign Policy And Diplomatic Priority -- Fixes For The Future From Failures Of The Past -- Conclusion: Changing The Paradigm Joyce E. Leader ; Foreword By Pauline H. Baker. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Electronic Reproduction. Baltimore, Md Available Via World Wide Web. As deputy to the U.S. ambassador in Rwanda, Joyce E. Leader witnessed the tumultuous prelude to genocide - a period of political wrangling, human rights abuses, and many levels of ominous, ever-escalating violence. This book offers her insider’s account of the nation’s efforts to move toward democracy and peace and analyzes the challenges of conducting diplomacy in settings prone to - or engaged in - armed conflict. This book traces the three-way struggle for control among Rwanda’s ethnic and regional factions. Each sought to shape democratization and peacemaking to its own advantage. The United States, hoping to encourage a peaceful transition, midwifed negotiations toward an accord. The result: a revolutionary blueprint for political and military power-sharing among Rwanda’s competing factions that met categorical rejection by the “losers” and a downward spiral into mass atrocities. Drawing on the Rwandan experience, the author proposes ways diplomacy can more effectively avert the escalation of violence by identifying the unintended consequences of policies and emphasizing conflict prevention over crisis response Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction Part 1 1. Political Liberalization Takes Off 2. War Intrudes 3. Rights Abuses and Violence Sow Fear 4. Opposition Parties Join a Coalition Government 5. Peace Talks Begin and a Cease-Fire Takes Hold 6. Democratization Flounders 7. Turning Point 8. Violence Stalks Democratization and Prospects for Peace 9. The January from Hell 10. Diplomats Undertake a Fact-Finding Mission 11. War Resumes 12. A Second Chance for Peace 13. Arusha Observer: The Setting 14. Arusha Observer: The Negotiations 15. The Dénouement 16. Preparing to Implement the Arusha Accords 17. Violence Plagues Implementation 18. Implementation Stalls 19. The Exodus 20. Return to Rwanda Part 2 21. Diplomatic Challenges 22. Making Conflict Prevention a Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Priority 23. Fixes for the Future from Failures of the Past Conclusion Chronology of Events, 1959–1994 Notes Bibliography Index "Former ambassador Joyce Leader was DCM in Kigali from 1991 until the genocide erupted in 1994 and is a recognized authority on the failed diplomatic efforts to avert the tragedy"-- Provided by publisher Former ambassador Joyce E. Leader was DCM in Kigali from 1991 until the genocide erupted in 1994 and is a recognized authority on the failed diplomatic efforts to avert the tragedy.