Introduction

This chapter addresses the extant explanatory models used to explain group violence in Rwanda and Burundi; specifically, those which approach the topic from macro-, meso- and micro-level perspectives. It focuses on the difficulties all of these theories encounter with structure and agency, as well as their common assumption that actors behave as rational utility maximizers. The integrative approach used by the study to explain the relationship between democratization and mass violence in Rwanda and Burundi is introduced, along with a brief discussion of the two theories that provide the basis for this approach: historical institutionalism and prospect theory. Historical institutionalism specifically emphasizes the variety of ways in which institutions impact collective behavior and generate distinctive outcomes. Prospect theory is a decision-making theory that specifically takes into account the impact of contextual factors on choice-making behavior. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.