In Search of Genocide: A Comparison of Rwanda and South Africa
Author(s)
Du Preez, Peter
Abstract
A case of genocide in Rwanda is compared to a case where genocide or great violence might have been expected to occur but did not–the change of regime in South Africa. It is proposed that one crucial difference between the cases is the difference between splitting and dividing groups. Whereas in Rwanda the Tutsi and the Hutu were systematically split since the Belgians used the Tutsi as surrogates to dominate the Hutu, in South Africa there was no systematic use of surrogates and hence no malignant splitting of the indigenous population. The technique of rule in South Africa was by division, which does not focus rage on any indigenous group. The psychology of splitting is discussed.
