Killing Neighbors: Webs of Violence in Rwanda

Killing Neighbors is a fine contribution to the literature on the Rwandan genocide and offers a different kind of explanation for what occurred that accommodates the differentiation in actions among Hutu at the local level. This micro-sociological approach is welcome as community level understandings of the political can be quite different from centralized narratives. It is difficult to imagine a situation in which it is more important to capture both perspectives than the Rwandan genocide. -Sandra Joireman, Nations and Nationalism

Perhaps paradoxically, by heightening readers' awareness of the manifold individual actions, the author's methodological discarding of a received category-that of the 'mass'-leads to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions that led to 'mass' killings. The book offers a thoughtful-if, for some, provocative-analysis. It also reminds us that other links remain to be investigated if we are to make sense of the imbricated webs of nationwide violence. -Danielle de Lame, African Studies Review

This is an excellent book. It uses oral and written sources very well, is beautifully written and clearly argued, and is truly a pleasure to read (notwithstanding its grim subject). It intelligently describes and tries to explain the ambiguity of the genocide, a process that seems so clear (and evil) and yet, upon closer inspection, becomes far more blurry. . . . Killing Neighbors poses tough questions and contains far-reaching implications for thinking about genocide and civil violence more generally. -Peter Uvin, Perspectives on Politics

Killing Neighbors incorporates a sophisticated approach to historical factors and gives voice to people 'in the hills' as well as to political leaders. It makes a much-needed contribution both to the field of Rwandan studies and of genocide studies, substituting data for ideology and local voices for political tracts. Understanding how genocide happens requires more studies such as this. -David Newbury, Gwendolen Carter Professor of African Studies, Smith College

Lee Ann Fujii has written a thoughtful, eloquent book that powerfully engages the complexity of the Rwandan genocide. Through careful local-level research and through presenting many fascinating personal accounts, Fujii sheds light on the genocide, challenges much conventional wisdom, and develops a novel argument about the importance of performance, social ties, and group dynamics in how Rwanda's genocide unfolded. This is a terrific book that should be widely read by students of violence, ethnicity, and African politics. -Scott Straus, University of Wisconsin-Madison, author of The Order of Genocide