The Main Factors That Influenced The Rwandan Genocide

Genocide has the potential to occur in any society, however it commonly transpires under particular conditions. Gregory Stanton’s eight stages of genocide are designed to identify early warning signs and implement specific countermeasures to prevent genocide. The Rwandan genocide in 1994 was applicable to all stages of Gregory Stanton’s model however the model does not acknowledge and identify the underlying causes that triggered the initial stages of genocide. The key factors that influenced the Rwandan genocide were the intense civil war between the Tutsis and Hutus, political struggles to obtain State power and the pre-existing ethnical and racial classifications . Although all stages are relevant to the Rwandan genocide it is evident that Stanton fails to achieve a coherent and efficient explanation of warning signs that impact on timely preventative outcomes. 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