State formation and genocide Essay Example

in approximately 20,000 deaths of Tutsis and displacement of around 200,000 others.

The Rwandan civil war was initiated by the Tutsi uprising, led by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), whose objective was to regain Tutsi control. In 1990, they launched an invasion despite having signed a ceasefire in 1993. The Coalition for Defense of the Republic (CDR), which consisted of extremist Hutus, did not consent to this incursion and resulted in further conflict. Due to institutionalized discrimination against Hutus and preferential treatment towards Tutsis, resentment grew within the populace and eventually culminated in organized genocide carried out by a Hutu-led government through armed militias like Intarahamwe.

For more information on what caused this tragedy, please visit What led to the Rwandan genocide.

(Melvern L, 2006). The Armenian genocide occurred during April 24, 1915 and is recognized as a prototype for modern systematic genocides. It is additionally the second most investigated genocide ever. The rulers of the Ottoman Empire sought to eradicate all Armenians living within their empire, leading to an estimated death count ranging from one million to one and a half million individuals. To accomplish this appalling act, massacres and forced deportations causing fatalities were employed.

Established in the 14th century, the Ottoman Empire extended across three continents and comprised of Islamic and Christian groups like Armenians. While Christians enjoyed religious freedom, they were deemed inferior to Muslims. Additionally, Muslims could not be indicted based on testimony provided by Christians or Jews in a court of law.

During the Ottoman Empire, minorities faced legal restrictions such as being forbidden from carrying weapons or riding horses, having houses

that didn't overlook Muslim homes, and their religious practices being inferior to those of Muslims. The discriminatory treatment was challenged by Great Britain, France, and Russia. In November 1914, the Ottoman Empire aligned with the Central Powers during World War I.

In an attempt to reclaim land lost during the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78, the Ottoman Empire attacked the Russian army but experienced a significant defeat (Melson R, 1992). The ruling authorities blamed Armenian cooperation with Russia for this military failure. As a result, the Turkish Army launched arrests, deportations, and executions on Armenians, leading directly to the Armenian genocide as per Ottoman principles.

The state faced rebellion from minorities who opposed religious inequality and suppression, some even aligning with foreign forces. The Armenian minority was targeted in a campaign of extermination as retaliation. Similarly, the Bosnian genocide took place in 1993 when Serbian forces clashed with the Bosnia Muslim population resulting in over 200,000 lives lost. Bosnia-Herzegovina formed part of Yugoslavia which was established after World War I by allied forces as a country comprising diverse ethnic and religious groups that had previously held mutual animosity.

During Yugoslavia's existence, three religious groups coexisted: Serbs (orthodox Christians), Croats (Catholics), and Muslims. Joseph Tito was a powerful leader who facilitated peaceful living among these groups. However, after his passing, ethnic divisions intensified leading to turmoil. As a result, Slovenia and Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 while Bosnia also became an autonomous nation in 1992 despite having a Muslim majority population with around 32% of its people being Serb minority. The US and European community both acknowledged Bosnia as an independent state.

The Serbian army invaded Bosnia in order

to protect their fellow Serbs, but instead committed various atrocities such as mass executions, forced repopulation and confinement of Bosnian men and boys in concentration camps. However, the international community did not intervene despite these crimes. In 1993, Serbian forces committed genocide without facing any consequences which led to the Srebrenica massacre where 8000 men and boys were killed. The hostility from Serbia towards Bosnian Muslims started when Bosnia was created as a state because they were seen as a threat to the Serbian population. As a result, the invasion aimed to eliminate Bosnian Muslims and shield their own people. All instances of genocide discussed in this paper are directly related to the establishment of Bosnia as a state.

Living in the same state does not necessarily indicate a shared national identity. Previous enmity can result in conflict and potentially genocide if a powerful group, such as the military, utilizes state power against another.