Foreign Policy in Post-Genocide Rwanda
Elite Perceptions of Global Engagement
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Book Description
This book examines how Rwandan elites within the government, private sector and civil society perceive the nation’s political and economic relationship with the international community. Using testimonies and interviews of Rwandan political, military and economic leaders, and bureaucrats, this book examines the intersubjective beliefs that formulate how Rwanda engages with the international community. The book presents and analyses three primary intersubjective themes: historical and possible future abandonment of Rwanda; implementing an ideology of agaciro to promote self-respect, dignity and self-reliance for state security and economic development; and the belief in the government’s obligation to promote human security for those who identify as ‘Rwandan’. These perceptions help us understand how post-genocide Rwanda engages with the international community in the pursuit of state security, economic development and to prevent a future genocide. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of African politics and international relations as well as the politics of post-genocide states.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
Abbreviations
Introduction
PART I Rwandan history and its impact on Rwandan foreign affairs
1 Early history of the RPF’s interpretation of state–global relations (1959–1994)
2 From genocide to Congo Wars and the rebuilding of Rwanda’s foreign policy
PART II Rwandan state interests and foreign policy practices
3 Foreign policy mechanisms and internal mechanisms of Rwanda
4 State security concerns of the FDLR and genocide ideology
5 Foreign aid dependence and Rwandan interests
6 The drive towards economic and commercial diplomacy
PART III Rwandan engagement with neighbours and the broader international community
7 Rwandan foreign policy within the African Great Lakes
8 Rwanda’s continental and global engagement
Conclusion: The crafting of Rwandan foreign policy
Appendix 1 Description of named interviewees
Appendix 2 Unnamed informants
Appendix 3 Quantitative data
References
Index
Author(s)
Biography
Jonathan R. Beloff is a researcher focusing on the foreign and internal politics of the African Great Lakes region.