The main thought of this research is to clarify the consequences of governmental (respectively colonial) influence for the legitimacy of Gacaca-courts in Rwanda. However, the outcomes are supposed to be general enough to assess the practicability of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in other African states as well. As a research design, the paper leaves the realisation of its methodological framework open.
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) Literature Review
3) Conceptualization
3.1) Research question and hypothesis
3.2) Methodology
4) Critical View
5) Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the extent to which governmental and colonial influence has shaped the Gacaca-courts in Rwanda and to determine whether this transformation has resulted in a loss of institutional legitimacy among the population.
- Analysis of governmental influence on traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.
- Examination of the "invented tradition" concept in the context of Rwandan justice.
- Evaluation of the legitimacy of Gacaca-courts through the lens of population participation.
- Discussion on the transferability of Gacaca mechanisms to other African states.
- Critical assessment of methodological challenges in qualitative historical research.
Excerpt from the Book
1.) Introduction
There is no doubt about the fact that the majority of the African states continue to exhibit unstable state structures. After regaining independence, some states have experienced terrific civil wars, some found stability only after the installation of an autocratic regime with questionable leaders. The Rwandan genocide in 1994 certainly illustrates the peak of violence over the last decades. Estimates quantify an amount up to 800.000 victims. Several decades of military dictatorship under the former Army Chief of Staff Juvénal Habyarimana had preceded the cruel occurrence. Facing such elites, Jean-Pierre Bekolo, one of the most popular African film producers, called in a recent interview „que les blancs reviennent à l’Afrique“ (In: Slate Afrique, last access: 05/09/13). This paper doesn’t want to take up this demand; the author rather postulates that there must be other ways of conflict resolution than recolonization.
More than other African countries, Rwanda is an interesting case when it comes to its individual approach towards indigenous traditions. So called “Gacaca-courts” (the term “Gacaca” can be more or less translated with “grassroots” from Kinyarwanda, the official language in Rwanda) have been installed after the genocide in order to clarify and to reconcile perpetrators and victims: “(…) the courts are meant to fight genocide and eradicate the culture of impunity, and they need to reconcile Rwandans by (re-)enforcing unity” (Ingelaere 2008:32). Since this, numerous research papers have commended the potential these Gacaca-courts had to function as a role model for other African states.
Summary of Chapters
1) Introduction: Provides an overview of the unstable state structures in Africa and introduces the Gacaca-courts as a case study for indigenous conflict resolution in Rwanda.
2) Literature Review: Discusses existing research on the Rwandan genocide and Gacaca-courts, highlighting the discourse on "invented traditions" and the influence of colonial power.
3) Conceptualization: Outlines the theoretical framework, defining the research question and hypothesis regarding the correlation between state influence and the loss of legitimacy.
3.1) Research question and hypothesis: Focuses on the formulation of the study's central premise, aiming to generalize the findings beyond the specific Rwandan context.
3.2) Methodology: Details the operationalization of variables and the planned chronological structure for analyzing the development of Gacaca-courts.
4) Critical View: Critically evaluates the research concept, addressing methodological limitations such as the selection bias of literature and the challenge of identifying causal links in history.
5) Conclusion: Recaps the research findings and reflects on the broader academic and practical implications of Gacaca-courts for future peace-building in Africa.
Keywords
Gacaca-courts, Rwanda, Genocide, Traditional justice, Invented tradition, Legitimacy, Colonial influence, Conflict resolution, Reconciliation, State structures, Political science, Indigenous traditions, Qualitative analysis, Judicial systems, African governance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the Gacaca-courts in Rwanda to understand how governmental and colonial influence has shaped their development and whether this has impacted their legitimacy among the population.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study covers themes such as post-genocide reconciliation, the evolution of indigenous justice systems, the concept of "invented traditions," and the role of colonial legacies in modern African governance.
What is the core research question?
The research asks if there is a measurable influence of the colonial state on Gacaca-court traditions and what the resulting consequences for the institution's legitimacy are.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author proposes a qualitative analysis based on a literature review and expert consultations to evaluate the independent and dependent variables, structuring the analysis chronologically.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body consists of a literature review, the conceptualization of the research design, a methodological plan, and a critical analysis of the potential shortcomings of the study.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Gacaca-courts, Rwanda, reconciliation, legitimacy, colonial influence, and traditional conflict resolution.
How does the author define the "invented tradition" in this context?
The author draws on Hobsbawm and Ranger to distinguish native traditions from those influenced by colonial power, suggesting that Gacaca-courts may have been re-institutionalized by the government rather than representing purely authentic historical practices.
What is the significance of the "expert consultation" mentioned in the methodology?
Expert consultation is proposed as the primary tool to measure the dependent variable "legitimacy," as the author argues that quantitative field studies are beyond the scope of a bachelor-level research paper.
- Quote paper
- Sven Piechottka (Author), 2013, Gacaca 2.0 - what is left of the traditional justice system in Rwanda? Research Design (englisch), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/263336
