Voices from Afar: The Socio-Psychological Forces That Motivate Tutsi Diaspora Identity and Civil Engagement

Since 1994, Rwanda has seen tremendous economic and social growth. One component of this growth has been Rwandan diaspora, who under the Rwandan constitution enjoy certain civil and political rights unusual for those living outside the country. While the current Rwandan government includes prominent members who prior to 1994 were themselves diaspora, the Rwandan government’s relationship with those living outside their country can be at times supportive, and at other times suspicious. Adding to this complexity are controversial and multifaceted identity related policies that lie at the center of Rwandan national and foreign policy since 1994. These issues are transnational, affecting the domestic and foreign policies of Rwanda’s former sister country, Burundi, and its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Using a grounded theory method, this study seeks to probe more deeply into the identity of Rwandan Tutsi diaspora living in the United States, particularly aiming to describe their conceptions of themselves as diaspora, victims, and as survivors, and how this identity is potentially expressed through political support for Rwandan national policies and practices which have been criticized as normalizing direct, structural, or cultural violence. This research will also provide insight into the bidirectional influences between the Rwandan and Tutsi diaspora living in the United States. This study seeks to provide a greater understanding of complex identities and their connections to the great lakes region, which experiences continued tension and violence.