Women and War in Rwanda: Gender, Media and the Representation of Genocide (International Library of African Studies)

"The 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which followed the death of President Habyarimana, was one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the twentieth century and shamed both African and global leaderships. As wars in the Congo continue to tear apart the region, this book examines how the politics that led to the 1994 genocide continue to be played out in the international media. Scholars of political science contend that narratives are used strategically by states to influence and shape the behaviour of other actors in the international system. This book explore how, through processes of denial and revisionism, strong states with geopolitical interests in the Great Lakes region of Africa, African states directly involved in conflict, militia groups and rebels, as well as human rights activists and NGOs, all employ media narratives strategically with the aim of influencing political decision-making and public perceptions of genocide and war.Examining how international political discourse on the 1994 genocide in Rwanda is gendered, Georgina Holmes argues that states, militaries and human rights organisations use gendered narratives for political gain, and breaks new ground in analysing the role of gender in the conflict. This book is essential reading on the gendered dynamics of conflict and genocide in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and will appeal to anyone with an interest in Gender Studies, Political Communication, Media and Film Studies, African Studies, Genocide Studies and International Relations."--Bloomsbury publishing. The 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which followed the death of President Habyarimana, was one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the twentieth century and shamed both African and global leaderships. As wars in the Congo continue to tear apart the region, this book examines how the politics that led to the 1994 genocide continue to be played out in the international media. Scholars of political science contend that narratives are used strategically by states to influence and shape the behaviour of other actors in the international system. This book explore how, through processes of denial and revisionism, strong states with geopolitical interests in the Great Lakes region of Africa, African states directly involved in conflict, militia groups and rebels, as well as human rights activists and NGOs, all employ media narratives strategically with the aim of influencing political decision-making and public perceptions of genocide and war. Examining how international political discourse on the 1994 genocide in Rwanda is gendered, Georgina Holmes argues that states, militaries and human rights organisations use gendered narratives for political gain, and breaks new ground in analysing the role of gender in the conflict. This book is essential reading on the gendered dynamics of conflict and genocide in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and will appeal to anyone with an interest in Gender Studies, Political Communication, Media and Film Studies, African Studies, Genocide Studies and International Relations. Georgina Holmes holds a PhD in International Relations from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and a JD specialising in public relations. She is an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London. Publisher's note Focusing on television media reporting of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and its aftermath, this book explores how African states directly involved in conflict, western states with geopolitical interests in Africa's Great Lakes region, militia groups, human rights activists and NGOs use gendered media narratives strategically, often engaging in politics of revisionism and denial, to change the behaviour of other actors in the international system.Critically analysing BBC documentary films and news features and drawing on interviews with British, Rwandan and Congolese journalists, filmmakers, political commentators and human rights activists Georgina Holmes argues that documentary films and political discussion programmes are postcolonial contact zones, wherein competing actors perform in an attempt to influence international political decision-making on military and humanitarian intervention and public perceptions of genocide and war.The book breaks new ground in understanding how Rwandan and Congolese women actively engage in producing and shaping international public discourse on genocide and war, despite being depicted as silent, passive victims of conflict. This book is essential reading on the gendered dynamics of media reporting on conflicts and will appeal to anyone with an interest in Feminist Security Studies, Political Communication, Media and Film Studies, African Studies, Genocide Studies and International Relations. "The 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which followed the death of President Habyarimana, was one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the twentieth century. Beamed into the living rooms of the West, it shamed both African and global leaderships. As wars in the Congo continue to tear apart the region, this book examines how the politics that led to the 1994 genocide continue to be played out in the international media. Drawing on a range of African and international primary sources, Georgina Holmes argues that the media represents a site within which political and military actors can influence narratives about war and genocide, and breaks new ground in analyzing the role of gender in the conflict. This book is essential reading on the gendered dynamics of conflict and genocide in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and will appeal to anyone with an interest in Gender Studies, Media and Film Studies, African Studies and International Relations"--Provided by publisher List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Maps -- Introduction -- 1. Contextualizing media events: war and genocide in Rwanda and the east of Congo -- 2. Rwandan women and war -- 3. Militarizing women, preparing for genocide: Hutu extremist magazine Kangura 1990-94 -- 4. Newsnight -- 5. Remembering genocide, forgetting politics: the BBC's institutional narrative post-1994 -- 6. 'Living on gold should be a blessing should be a blessing, instead it is a curse' ; mass rape in the Congo -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index Contextualizing Media Events : War And Genocide In Rwanda And The East Of Congo -- Rwandan Women And War -- Militarizing Women, Preparing For Genocide : Hutu Extremist Magazine Kangura 1990-94 -- Newsnight -- Remembering Genocide, Forgetting Politics : The Bbc's Institutional Narrative Post-1994 -- 'living On Gold Should Be A Blessing, Instead It Is A Curse': Mass Rape In The Congo. Georgina Holmes. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [274]-315) And Index.