Kill Thy Neighbor: The Effects of Social Homogeneity and Hate Speech in the Rwandan Genocide (2016)

Undergraduate: Corie Walsh

Faculty Advisor: Mark Crescenzi
Department: Peace, War & Defense

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This study examines the effects of social homogeneity and hate speech on civilian participation in genocide. It focuses on the case example of Rwanda, examining both qualitative and quantitative evidence. This research is particularly interested with civilian behavior at the community or village level, and the way that social interactions influence a person¿¿¿s decisions in crisis. Previous research has shown the impacts of both hate speech and social homogeneity independently, but social science has yet to examine the relationship between the two. Arguments about the role of hate speech and homogeneity vary at the levels of operationalization. At the state level, socially homogeneous societies can successfully limit conflict. At the community and individual level, however, there is overwhelming research that social diversity encourages individuals to question authority and conformity. This research only addresses social homogeneity and hate speech as it influences the behaviors of individual civilians. This research argues that hate speech is a key step in creating a strong national narrative to garner civilian support for genocidal violence, especially when homogenous populations do not have social interactions to counteract the negative messaging. I contest that high levels of social homogeneity and hate speech will lead to high levels of civilian participation in violence. This research is helps to explain and predict the behavior of civilians in conflict.