Orientalism in Rwanda
Keywords
Loading...
Authors
Issue Date
2010-07
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
In this thesis research is conducted regarding the colonial history of Rwanda. The purpose
is to get more insight into the legacy of European colonial rule and to determine whether it
is possible to connect it with post-colonial violence. Specifically: the 1994 genocide. With
the help of Edward Said‟s elaborate theory of Orientalism the ideology that underpinned
colonial rule in Rwanda is uncovered and its content analyzed.
Together these so-called „imaginary geographies‟ represent the then-dominant
ideas, theories and views people in Europe had of Rwanda and its inhabitants. This thesis
will look into what these views were and how they were subsequently put into practice
through successive colonial policies. Finally, these views and policies are related to the
outbreak of post-colonial violence and genocide in order to determine the level of causality
between them.
The order of this thesis is as follows. First, a brief overview will be given of
Rwanda‟s colonial history, as well as the pre-colonial and post-colonial period. Chapter
four covers the imaginary geographies of European colonialism, analyzing its creation,
content and implementation. Following this, the results from chapter four will be related to
post-colonialism and violence. Finally, chapter six offers a conclusion of this thesis and its
research questions.
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen