The discursive impact of transnational advocacy networks : how amnesty international and human rights watch influenced the media coverage of the Rwanda genocide

Authors

Marilu Del Toro, Florida International University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Major/Program

International Studies

First Advisor's Name

Clair Apodaca

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Elisabeth Prugl

Third Advisor's Name

John Clark

Date of Defense

7-9-2009

Abstract

Initial representations of the Rwanda genocide in the Western media were at best inaccurate and at worst, stereotypical, citing African "tribal savagery" and "centuries-old tribal hatred" as the reason for the mass killings. Two major human rights organizations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, had the opportunity to correct media portrayals and help shape the agenda for policymakers. The purpose of this study was to take a critical look at media portrayals and discover whether these two nongovernmental organizations played a role in influencing the coverage. An extensive media analysis of three elite Western newspapers found that NGOs were the single largest source of nuanced political explanations countering stereotypes of African "tribal warfare." Human Rights Watch, in particular, played a pivotal role in sensitizing the media to the genocide's character as a planned, politically motivated campaign.

Identifier

FI14062235

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Del Toro, Marilu, "The discursive impact of transnational advocacy networks : how amnesty international and human rights watch influenced the media coverage of the Rwanda genocide" (2009). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2765.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2765