Discrepancies of Narratives in the Construction of National Collective Identity in Post-Genocide Rwanda

IntroductionWho holds the authority to determine self-identifi cation?Is it grounded in individual agency, institutional authority, or societal power dynamics?Around the world, diff erent forms of identity exist, such as personal, cultural, and others.However, this article focuses on one specifi c type: social identity, with particular attention to collective identities.The concept of social identity (a term used synonymously with collective identity) was developed by British psychologist Henry Tajfel in the 1970s.It is based on the idea that individuals see themselves as members of specifi c groups within society.This group affi liation signifi cantly infl uences how people think and behave (Ellemers, 2025).Furthermore, Trepte Schmalz, Colistra Scheepers & Ellemers, 2019).Ethnic identity is a component of social identity and plays a crucial role in intergroup relations, particularly in multiethnic societies or countries.Eriksen (2001) describes ethnicity as a set of clearly defi ned expressions of cultural variation among social groups who perceive themselves as belonging to diff erent ethnic communities.Driedger (2015) explains that members of an ethnic group often believe they share common personal characteristics such as physical appearance and other shared attributes, including ancestry, cultural practices, and social experiences.According to this view, people within the same ethnic group tend to identify a specifi c geographic area as their own, claim it as their heritage, and Vandengiste, S. (2014)."Governing Ethnicity after Genocide: Ethnic Amnesia in Rwanda versus Ethnic Power-sharing in Burundi".Journal of East African Studies, 8(2), 263-27.Thompson, S. (2014).Rwanda's national unity and reconciliation program.E-International Relations.