Question

At the end of this lesson, you learned a little about four genocides that have occurred since World War II. Choose one of the genocides to study further. Use one of these resources to start your research:

Cambodia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Rwanda
Darfur

Based on your research, write a short essay of 250–300 words discussing the genocide you have chosen to study. Your essay should describe the events that match the eight stages of genocide. It should also answer these questions:

Why did this genocide start, and who was involved?
What steps might people have taken to prevent genocide? Provide examples of those steps.
How can the international community prevent genocide in the future?

Answer 1

The genocide that I have chosen to study is the genocide that occurred in Rwanda. The genocide began in April 1994 and lasted for approximately 100 days. During this time, it is estimated that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.

The first stage of the genocide was classification, where the Tutsis were identified as the enemy. The second stage was symbolization, where the Tutsis were labeled as "cockroaches". The third stage was dehumanization, where the Tutsis were viewed as subhuman and not deserving of life. The fourth stage was organization, where the Hutu government organized and trained militias to carry out the killings. The fifth stage was polarization, where the Hutu government used propaganda to turn the Hutu people against the Tutsis. The sixth stage was preparation, where the Hutu militias began to stockpile weapons and plan the killings. The seventh stage was extermination, where the Hutu militias carried out the killings. The eighth and final stage was denial, where the Hutu government denied that the genocide had occurred.

The genocide in Rwanda started due to long-standing tensions between the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups. The Hutu government was involved in organizing and carrying out the genocide, and Hutu militias were responsible for the majority of the killings.

People could have taken a number of steps to prevent the genocide in Rwanda. The international community could have intervened earlier to stop the violence, and the United Nations could have deployed peacekeepers to the region. Additionally, the media could have done a better job of reporting on the situation in Rwanda and raising awareness about the genocide.

To prevent genocide in the future, the international community must work together to identify and prevent the early warning signs of genocide. Governments must also be held accountable for their actions, and individuals who commit genocide must be brought to justice. Finally, education and awareness must be increased to prevent future genocides from occurring.