ABSTRACT
The 1994 Rwandan genocide occurred at the end of the bloodiest century in human history, ushering in the post-Cold War international order that has since been defined by intrastate conflict and a transnational war on terrorism. The post-genocide era in Rwanda under the leadership of Paul Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) has been equally defined by impressive growth and development, and the criminalization of political opposition. These two characteristics of contemporary Rwanda provide a unique case study for understanding post-conflict development in the 21st century.
Guided by the idea that desperate times require desperate measures, this chapter argues that Rwanda’s post-genocide narrative of remembering and reconciliation is directly linked to the country’s strategy for development, as Vision 2020 promises to bring Rwandans out of poverty if they are accepting of the narrative of the “Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi,” and work together to achieve lofty goals. It is further explored that regardless of both documented and alleged abuses of political and human rights that have occurred under the RPF, Rwanda is an exceptional country when compared with the rest of the continent, and provides an opportunity to critically re-examine our views on post-conflict development in the 21st century. Post-genocide narratives promote progressive development and forward-looking ideals, while criminalizing certain language used to remember the genocide.
