Studying “Radio Machete”: Towards a Robust Research Programme

Richards, Hannah K.;Baele, Stephane J.;Coan, Travis G.
(2019) Journal of Genocide Research — Vol. 21, n° 4, p. 525-539 (2019)

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Authors
  • Richards, Hannah K.Independent Scholar, UK
    Author
  • Baele, Stephane J.Centre for Advanced International Studies (CAIS), Department of Politics, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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  • Coan, Travis G.Q-Step Centre, Department of Politics, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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Abstract
The role played by the media throughout the Rwandan Genocide has justifiably attracted substantial attention from scholars. Since1994, the increasing availability of transcripts of radio broadcasts online has helped produce a rich and fruitful body of research into the extremist propaganda of pre-, early- and late-genocide Rwanda. Through constructive engagement with the existing literature, we identify four common limitations that characterize studies to date: the tendency to solely analyze the broadcasts of Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), inconsistent/convenient sampling from mismatched databases, a reliance on translations, and a lack of effort to design valid and reliable methods. By examining these methodological shortcomings and identifying solutions for each, this reflection argues that efforts to document the role of the radio in the Rwandan genocide are far from over and seeks to enhance future research into extremist communications both in the Rwandan case and further afield.
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Richards, H. K., Baele, S. J., & Coan, T. G. (2019). Studying “Radio Machete”: Towards a Robust Research Programme. Journal of Genocide Research, 21(4), 525-539. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623528.2019.1652017 (Original work published 2019)