Toxification Normalised - The Normalisation of Toxifying Rhetoric in the Rwandan Genocide and What This Means
for Genocide Prevention. - PO-3330 – Ben Hitchings
A Policy Paper on the Case-Study of the Rwandan Genocide (1994)
Executive Summary
The world has not learnt from the Rwandan Genocide of the devastating impact
normalising toxifying rhetoric had. The use of such language from Vladmir Putin
and Donald Trump, under Rhiannon Neilsen’s toxification method, highlight
early warning signs of genocide. This report applies the toxification model to
events of the Rwandan genocide, underlining the impact of such propaganda
prior to the genocide and the strength of toxification as an early warning
identifier. In addition to the importance of applying this to the current day, with
the danger of using toxifying language carelessly. Future genocides are not out
of the realm of possibility, identifying early warnings and preventing them is
essential.
Introduction
This report will focus on the Rwandan Genocide and specifically on the role of
dehumanising language. Where it will adopt Rhiannon Neilsen’s concept of
toxification as a stronger early warning sign of genocide than dehumanisation. It
is significant to focus on toxification as it is an emerging area of study that
despite strengths, needs application and development. Firstly, the report will
explore an overview of the relevant events of the genocide and the key
arguments on the role of such rhetoric. Next, the analysis section will examine
the toxifying rhetoric used by the media, in primary sources prior to the
genocide. With a particular focus on the direct impact this had on motivating
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