Article Version of Record

Between Fiction and Reality in Post-Genocide Rwanda: Reflections on a Social-Psychological Media Intervention for Social Change

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Bilali, Rezarta

Abstract / Description

This article reflects on the potential and challenges of implementing social psychological interventions in the aftermath of genocide, specifically focusing on an education entertainment media campaign in Rwanda. The analysis is based on the author’s experience working with a non-governmental organization in producing "Musekeweya"—a very popular violence prevention and reconciliation radio drama. The article highlights the advantages of using fiction as an effective tool to communicate messages about violence and reconciliation, and provide a safe space to address sensitive topics in post-genocide contexts. In addition, it outlines some of the challenges of translating existing knowledge to interventions that promote reconciliation in specific socio-political settings, such as Rwanda, where the government has implemented a series of programs and policies to achieve unity and reconciliation. The paper ends with a discussion of future directions to further increase social and political psychology’s potential to inform effective social interventions in the aftermath of violence.

Keyword(s)

social interventions media reconciliation genocide applied social psychology Rwanda

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2014-04-11

Journal title

Journal of Social and Political Psychology

Volume

2

Issue

1

Page numbers

387–400

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Bilali, R. (2014). Between Fiction and Reality in Post-Genocide Rwanda: Reflections on a Social-Psychological Media Intervention for Social Change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 2(1), 387–400. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v2i1.288
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Bilali, Rezarta
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-26T12:44:44Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-26T12:44:44Z
  • Date of first publication
    2014-04-11
  • Abstract / Description
    This article reflects on the potential and challenges of implementing social psychological interventions in the aftermath of genocide, specifically focusing on an education entertainment media campaign in Rwanda. The analysis is based on the author’s experience working with a non-governmental organization in producing "Musekeweya"—a very popular violence prevention and reconciliation radio drama. The article highlights the advantages of using fiction as an effective tool to communicate messages about violence and reconciliation, and provide a safe space to address sensitive topics in post-genocide contexts. In addition, it outlines some of the challenges of translating existing knowledge to interventions that promote reconciliation in specific socio-political settings, such as Rwanda, where the government has implemented a series of programs and policies to achieve unity and reconciliation. The paper ends with a discussion of future directions to further increase social and political psychology’s potential to inform effective social interventions in the aftermath of violence.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Bilali, R. (2014). Between Fiction and Reality in Post-Genocide Rwanda: Reflections on a Social-Psychological Media Intervention for Social Change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 2(1), 387–400. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v2i1.288
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2195-3325
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1337
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1702
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v2i1.288
  • Keyword(s)
    social interventions
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    media
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    reconciliation
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    genocide
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    applied social psychology
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    Rwanda
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Between Fiction and Reality in Post-Genocide Rwanda: Reflections on a Social-Psychological Media Intervention for Social Change
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    1
  • Journal title
    Journal of Social and Political Psychology
  • Page numbers
    387–400
  • Volume
    2
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record