Re-Imagining Rwanda: Conflict, Survival and Disinformation in the Late Twentieth Century

by Johan Pottier

The conflict in Rwanda and the Great Lakes in 1994-1996 attracted the horrified attention of the world's media, diplomats and aid workers struggling to make sense of the bloodshed. This study shows how the post-genocide regime in Rwanda managed to impose a simple, persuasive account of Central Africa's crises upon international commentators, and explains the ideological underpinnings of this official narrative. It is a sobering analysis of how simple, persuasive, but fatally misleading analysis of the situation led to policy errors that exacerbated the original crisis.

Genres: Rwanda, Africa

276 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 1998

Reviews

[Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot has been written about Rwanda and the genocide. Pottier provides some interesting and useful insights on pre-genocide Rwandan society as well as the aftermath of the genocide (including the Rwandan invasion of then Zaire). This book is well worth a read for scholars interested in Rwandan society.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good counter to popular accounts.