Transforming men into killers: Attitudes leading to hands-on violence during the 1994 Rwandan genocide

Abstract

Abstract Background: Although public health-based violence prevention trials have been successful in a variety of high-risk settings, no study has addressed the prevention of genocide, a form of population-based, catastrophic violence. Objective: To develop a model, including a panel of modifiable attitudinal patterns, explaining why civilians assaulted or murdered targeted victims during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Design, setting, and participants: A grounded theory inquiry consisting of interviews with 41 Rwandan genocide perpetrators in six Rwandan provinces in 2005. Results: Respondents described two distinct environmental contexts (life prior to April 1994 and life during the 1994 genocide) that informed beliefs, decisions, and behaviour. In addition, all respondents described four experiential pressures shaping their choices to participate in the genocide: defending home and nation; fear of governing authorities; greed; and feeling overpowered, confused, or ambivalent. For the sub-sample of respondents under 21 years old, a fifth experiential pressure, transitions from adolescence to adulthood, was also described. A unique combination of these factors motivated each individual's behaviour, and shifted and evolved with new situations. Conclusions: A complex interaction between self and national defence, fear of ruling authorities, and overpowering social upheaval exerted pressure on average citizens to perpetrate hands-on violence during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. These findings may have future implications for understanding and preventing catastrophic violence in other high-risk jurisdictions.