Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities
This dissertation utilizes a descriptive case study method to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of identity politics in Rwanda. More specifically, this thesis situates identity politics in nation building in post-genocide Rwanda. In order to do so, this study examines diaspora engagement...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Political Studies
2016
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613208843386880 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Ta, Thanh |
| author2 | Jolobe, Zwelethu |
| author_browse | Jolobe, Zwelethu Ta, Thanh |
| author_facet | Jolobe, Zwelethu Ta, Thanh |
| author_sort | Ta, Thanh |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This dissertation utilizes a descriptive case study method to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of identity politics in Rwanda. More specifically, this thesis situates identity politics in nation building in post-genocide Rwanda. In order to do so, this study examines diaspora engagement politics. The central question in this thesis is: In what ways, and to what extent, have identity politics affected the nation building project in post-genocide Rwanda, in relation to its diaspora? Rwanda's turbulent history raises many issues regarding the political and social construction of Rwandan identity, but scholarship has not thoroughly examined the diaspora and state engagement with the diaspora. This thesis sought to examine these dynamics. It will do so by examining: (1) the ways in which the Rwandan Patriotic Front reconfigured identities inside Rwanda by perpetuating the narrative of unity; (2) the collective identities ascribed to groups of citizens inside and outside Rwanda, based on this government narrative; (3) how the RPF governed perceptions abroad; and finally (4) the education programs to shape the ideal Rwandan citizen. This thesis concludes that the Rwandan government, while trying to rebuild the nation, has failed to transcend divisive identities that have pervaded in Rwanda. Instead, it has created a tightly controlled political space in which a restrictive single identity and narrative existed; furthermore, identity politics have been increasingly manipulated and controlled by the state apparatus. The state's engagement with its diaspora illustrates this. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/20609 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:29.432Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | Department of Political Studies |
| publisherStr | Department of Political Studies |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/20609 Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities Ta, Thanh Jolobe, Zwelethu Justice and Transformation This dissertation utilizes a descriptive case study method to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of identity politics in Rwanda. More specifically, this thesis situates identity politics in nation building in post-genocide Rwanda. In order to do so, this study examines diaspora engagement politics. The central question in this thesis is: In what ways, and to what extent, have identity politics affected the nation building project in post-genocide Rwanda, in relation to its diaspora? Rwanda's turbulent history raises many issues regarding the political and social construction of Rwandan identity, but scholarship has not thoroughly examined the diaspora and state engagement with the diaspora. This thesis sought to examine these dynamics. It will do so by examining: (1) the ways in which the Rwandan Patriotic Front reconfigured identities inside Rwanda by perpetuating the narrative of unity; (2) the collective identities ascribed to groups of citizens inside and outside Rwanda, based on this government narrative; (3) how the RPF governed perceptions abroad; and finally (4) the education programs to shape the ideal Rwandan citizen. This thesis concludes that the Rwandan government, while trying to rebuild the nation, has failed to transcend divisive identities that have pervaded in Rwanda. Instead, it has created a tightly controlled political space in which a restrictive single identity and narrative existed; furthermore, identity politics have been increasingly manipulated and controlled by the state apparatus. The state's engagement with its diaspora illustrates this. 2016-07-22T13:15:36Z 2016-07-22T13:15:36Z 2016 Master Thesis Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20609 eng application/pdf Department of Political Studies Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Justice and Transformation Ta, Thanh Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities |
| title_full | Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities |
| title_fullStr | Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities |
| title_short | Recreating the Rwandan state and Citizen : an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming Rwandan identities |
| title_sort | recreating the rwandan state and citizen an analysis of diaspora politics and its role in transforming rwandan identities |
| topic | Justice and Transformation |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20609 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tathanh recreatingtherwandanstateandcitizenananalysisofdiasporapoliticsanditsroleintransformingrwandanidentities |