Politics & Governance / Domestic Politics / Political Reform & Transition

How Rwanda Rebuilt Democracy and Reconciliation After Genocide

Roland Junod, Paul Rutayisire

This video explores the groundbreaking research by Roland Junod and Paul Rutayisire on how grassroots communities in Rwanda combined democratic citizenship with daily reconciliation after the 1994 genocide. Based on a four-year action research project by the Geneva School of Social Work and the National University of Rwanda, we dive into three real-world 'citizenship sites': the Karama association where survivors and perpetrators' families rebuilt trust through shared labor and listening, the Gahini community that resolved land conflicts through dialogue, and the SCUR student club breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma. Discover the surprising role of Ubuntu philosophy and the 'Ubunyarwanda' identity in healing a shattered society. This isn't just history—it's a practical blueprint for post-conflict reconstruction that challenges everything you thought you knew about reconciliation.