The Political Power of Diaspora as External Actors in Armed Civil Conflict: Ethnonationalist Conflict-Generated Diaspora Use of Social Media in Transnational Political Engagement in Homeland Conflict: The Case of Rwanda.

摘要

This study explores the power of ethnonationalist conflict-generated diasporasud(CGD) as external actors in homeland conflict by exploring the nature of theirudpolitical engagement on a transnational level using Internet Communicationudtechnologies (ICTs), with Rwanda as a case study. Virtual ethnography wasudchosen as the research methodology to explore the online activities ofudRwandan CGD using social media (social networking sites) to form virtualudtransnational networks for political purposes. Diasporic online formations andudactivities were mapped in order to gain increased insights into ways that CGDuduse social media to engage in homeland conflict, and the effect theirudengagement has on the conflict cycle in the home country. Results of theudstudy revealed that Rwandan CGDs demonstrate attitudes and motivations toudact in ways that are consistent with other case studies of CGD, includingudexhibiting an enduring commitment and loyalty to co-ethnics, a romanticizedudconceptualization of homeland and a myth of return home. The results alsoudrevealed Rwandan CGDs¿ strong propensity to use social media to engage inudhomeland conflict on a political level through the development of a large anduddense transnational network used for a range of political purposes, includingudthe dissemination of genocide denial and propaganda consistent with the pre-genocideudpropaganda campaign. Implications for peace-building and conflictudanalysis are discussed.