View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Vanderbilt Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive RELIGION IN THE REMAKING OF RWANDA AFTER GENOCIDE By Joshua Theodore Bazuin Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Community Research and Action May 2013 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: Professor James C. Fraser Professor Paul R. Dokecki Professor C. Melissa Snarr Professor Paul W. Speer Copyright © 2013 by Joshua Theodore Bazuin All Rights Reserved DEDICATION To Sizeli Marcellin, David Bucura, Rachel Bugenimana, Cecile Nyiramana, Eugène Twizerimana, Bridget Butt, and Zachée Nzeyimana, and the thousands of unnamed peacemakers in Rwanda and in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Together, we planted seeds. and To my grandparents Harry Bazuin, Kathy de Haan, and Ted Steenhof, and in memory of Hilly Bazuin iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people made the research that forms the basis of this dissertation possible. My many assistants and friends in Rwanda were essential to the process. Without their help and guidance, I could not have completed nearly as many interviews, site visits, and surveys as I did, nor I could I have made sense of the data without their input. Musafiri, your many connections and tireless patience made many connections happen, and your indomitable cheer kept me going when my brain was too tired from processing three languages and sleeping in uncomfortable spaces to think clearly. Joyce, I appreciate very much your integrity and honesty and your skill. I am very glad I could have been a small part of your family’s life during my trips to Rwanda. Charles, I am always grateful for your driving skill, your music, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to drive me to the hospital in the middle of the night. Fifi, your cooking and housekeeping enabled more work to be done than I could ever have accomplished otherwise. This list does not come close to listing all the many people in Rwanda and in the region who have guided and inspired me. Sizeli, we had some bumpy times together, but there are few people whose strength and dedication I admire more. David and Rachel, I am routinely humbled by your drive and the way you serve your church and community. David and Debbie, being part of your family sustained me through challenging times. Breanna, Alandra, Gwen, and especially Aren, the time we spent together playing, reading books, swimming, talking, exploring, watching movies, and more renewed me in more ways that I can say. Zachée and Bridget, your support and council are always much appreciated; I always wish the best for you my friends. Doug and Deanna, a simple thank iv you cannot suffice for the hospitality, support, and effort you invested in me. Zawadi, Cecile, Eugene, and all the other staff and volunteers with FPH, CAPR, PDD, MiPAREC, COPARE: thank you for your hard work to bring peace in difficult situations. To the Mennonite Central Committee: I am honored to have been a small part of your valuable work around the world, and I thank you for taking a chance on an inexperienced guy fresh out of undergrad. My service has been life changing. Katey, your arrival in Rwanda in 2004 probably saved me, and I cannot thank you enough for all the chocolate whip cream you shared, the support you gave, the listening ear and encouraging words you lent. I would never have completed this project had I not finished my original term in Rwanda, and that probably would not have happened without you. Meg, Eric, Laura, and Matt, you made your guidance and friendships are much appreciated. The members of my dissertation committee deserve special mention. They were patient and supportive, giving me lots of time to explore a topic about which I am passionate but they have relatively little familiarity. Jim, your willingness to let me work at a pace that worked for me, your flexibility, and your understanding on issues large and small are much appreciated. In addition, Sharon, Craig Anne, Vera, Kimberly, Brooke, and Sherrie, you made graduate school less of an ordeal than it otherwise could have been. I have to thank my parents for their constant support. I know I’ve been away for nearly ten years now, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be living close to home again, but thank you for being there, even when you didn’t know where I was or what I was doing. As I grow older, I find myself appreciating more and more the strengths and values you both v gave me. Rachel, you have been a rock on which to lean and a supporter beyond measure. A brother never had a better sister. Jake and Colleen, Hannah and Mark, Mark and Kelsey, and Valerie: thank you for everything. I treasure the friendships which have sustained and encouraged me during graduate school and the writing of this dissertation. Brook and Cara, you can have no idea what you mean to me. You listened to and prayed with and for me, gave me a bed to sleep in on occasion, and Brook’s advice on professional and academic matters and numerous rides to the airport have been very helpful. When the time comes, leaving Nashville will be wrenching because I will be leaving you behind. Jill, I am exceedingly glad that we were able to be on this journey together. Laurel, we have supported each other for six years, ones that have been difficult and rewarding. Andrew, Jenn, Lindsey, Donald, and Alicia--I’ve enjoyed sharing academic life with you. * * * Funding for this research was provided by the Center for Community Studies, the Center for the Study of Religion and Culture, and a Dean’s Fellowship at Peabody College, all of Vanderbilt University. The Department of Human and Organizational Development, the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and the Environment, and grant money from James Fraser’s projects all provided work and a salary to support me while I prepared for and wrote this dissertation. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................... xiii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION AND KEY CONCEPTS ................................................................... 1 Research Question ........................................................................................................ 10 Outline .......................................................................................................................... 11 Key Definitions ............................................................................................................. 12 Religion ..................................................................................................................... 12 Peacebuilding ............................................................................................................ 23 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 37 II. THE CONTEXT: RELIGION IN RWANDA ............................................................. 39 A Short (Religious) History of Rwanda ....................................................................... 40 Pre-Colonial Rwanda ................................................................................................ 40 Colonial Rwanda ....................................................................................................... 43 Post-Independence Rwanda ...................................................................................... 46 The Genocide ................................................................................................................ 47 Religious Involvement in the Genocide .................................................................... 51 Theodicic Understandings of the Genocide .............................................................. 57 Post-Genocide Rwanda ................................................................................................. 63 Political and Economic Changes .............................................................................. 63 Promoting Justice and Reconciliation ....................................................................... 64 Religious Themes in Post-Genocide Memoirs ......................................................... 67 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 68 III. METHODS ................................................................................................................. 69 Wave One: Program Evaluation ................................................................................... 72 Survey Items and Constructs .................................................................................... 72 vii Wave Two: Oral Histories ............................................................................................ 77 Sampling and Data Collection .................................................................................