<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

This paper proposes a problematic reconstruction of the relationship between ethnic conflict, racial hatred, and media, focusing on the analysis of information flows and the social construction of the Other, as a public enemy, in war contexts. Through a socio-historical approach, analyzing sources offered by the press and international literature, we will examine the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994, where about one million people lost their lives in only 100 days. This case study is still particularly interesting today as an example of a timeless conflict, or rather of a 'forgotten (ethnic) war’
This expression refers to those conflicts that have profoundly marked humanity but have not received enough attention from the mass media. This is often the case for economic reasons, intrinsic to the information economy, as well as cultural issues and, to some extent, also because of the dependence of the media on the agenda dictated by politicians, who often choose to promote conflicts when there are special interests at stake.
Digital technologies have, however, partially limited the effects of this “forgetting.” Interconnection and digitization processes can sometimes transform the violent past into public memory, into pieces of shared history, so that the same mistakes are never made again.
</abstract>

This paper proposes a problematic reconstruction of the relationship between ethnic conflict, racial hatred, and media, focusing on the analysis of information flows and the social construction of the Other, as a public enemy, in war contexts. Through a socio-historical approach, analyzing sources offered by the press and international literature, we will examine the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994, where about one million people lost their lives in only 100 days. This case study is still particularly interesting today as an example of a timeless conflict, or rather of a 'forgotten (ethnic) war’
This expression refers to those conflicts that have profoundly marked humanity but have not received enough attention from the mass media. This is often the case for economic reasons, intrinsic to the information economy, as well as cultural issues and, to some extent, also because of the dependence of the media on the agenda dictated by politicians, who often choose to promote conflicts when there are special interests at stake.
Digital technologies have, however, partially limited the effects of this “forgetting.” Interconnection and digitization processes can sometimes transform the violent past into public memory, into pieces of shared history, so that the same mistakes are never made again.

“Apparently Forgotten Wars”. (Digital) Genocide, Information and the Construction of the Other in Postmodern Conflicts

Geopolitical, Social Security and Freedom Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This paper proposes a problematic reconstruction of the relationship between ethnic conflict, racial hatred, and media, focusing on the analysis of information...

“Apparently Forgotten Wars”. (Digital) Genocide, Information and the Construction of the Other in Postmodern Conflicts

Publié en ligne: 13 oct. 2022

Pages: 67 - 79

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gssfj-2022-0005

Mots clés
digital media, Rwanda, ethnic war, journalism, cultural violence, crisis

© 2022 Giacomo Buoncompagni, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

“Apparently Forgotten Wars”. (Digital) Genocide, Information and the Construction of the Other in Postmodern Conflicts

Publié en ligne: 13 oct. 2022

Pages: 67 - 79

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gssfj-2022-0005

Mots clésdigital media, Rwanda, ethnic war, journalism, cultural violence, crisis

© 2022 Giacomo Buoncompagni, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
digital media, Rwanda, ethnic war, journalism, cultural violence, crisis