1. Rwandan genocide in 1994 initially faced disengagement from UN and Western countries due to media confusion and delayed intervention caused by the killing of Belgian peacekeepers by Hutu insurgents.
2. President Kagame's regime in Rwanda emphasizes peace and development through authoritarian control to secure Western aid, while ongoing conflicts by Hutu extremists, especially in the Congo, impact regional stability.
3. In Sudan, Janjaweed raids drew international attention, prompting condemnation of genocide by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, with African Union, UN, and ICC actions leading to suppression of raids and arrest warrants for President Bashir.
4. Despite ICC warrants, violence continued in Darfur with campaigns against rebel groups and peacekeeper withdrawal in 2020, raising concerns about renewed genocidal violence in Darfur against non-Arabic tribes, notably the Masalit.
Make this shorter
The Rwandan genocide in 1994 initially faced disengagement from the UN and Western countries due to confusion and delayed intervention. President Kagame's regime in Rwanda emphasizes peace and development through authoritarian control. In Sudan, Janjaweed raids led to international condemnation and ICC arrest warrants for President Bashir. Despite warrants, violence continues in Darfur, raising concerns about renewed genocidal violence.
The impact was not just political, but also economic. The cost of the area around the World Trade Center, cleanup, lost jobs, and destruction was substantial at an estimated $65 billion. The global economy was also affected by the uncertainty in the U.S. and the fears of investors. It had a domino effect on the world. Airports were shut down, both in the U.S. and in other parts of the world. The fear from the terrorist attacks prompted changes in the law, especially concerning privacy and communications. Ethnic and religious prejudice was fueled by images of the al-Qaeda Islamic terrorists that were displayed everywhere. The impact of the 9/11 attacks put Western countries on alert, but it also became an example for al-Qaeda and a demonstration of its power. The extremist organization’s mission was to unite the Islamic nations and create an Islamic world. The attack on 9/11 represented what al-Qaeda was capable of and rallied other cells to commit similar acts. The terrorists who hijacked the planes were considered martyrs, having sacrificed themselves for the cause of bringing down America. The U.S. reaction created mistrust among its own population between Muslims and non-Muslims, as well as anyone who appeared to be from the Middle East. The planes were used for a direct assault, but the U.S.’s own policies created a rift within the country. This fueled the message of al-Qaeda because Western countries were targeting and discriminating against Islamic and Middle Eastern people. The foreign military in Afghanistan was not welcome. Many people in the Middle East and Central Asia who resided in areas where U.S. troops were deployed resented their presence. Al-Qaeda received support from previous opposition because the terrorist group promised to rid the area of Western intervention and had shown it was capable of doing so. A virtually unknown group of fundamentalists became a household name after 9/11. This event was perceived by the world in very different ways. The 9/11 attacks exposed Western vulnerabilities and provoked a quick and decisive reaction. In countries such as Afghanistan, the attacks demonstrated the power a small organization was capable of. Al-Qaeda became a symbol for others who wished to rid their countries of American troops and Western influences. Terrorism is not new, but because it happened in the U.S., the media continues to publish information, while the Department of Homeland Security continues to exist in reaction to the events of 9/11. Afghanistan had been in the midst of a civil war, fighting factions with different ideologies, and had been occupied by foreign troops since the Cold War. The attacks of 9/11 were perceived as pushing back. The Persian Gulf War, troops in Afghanistan, and U.S. support of Israel had left behind destruction. There were regular skirmishes between different populations, and the West was seen as being to blame for supplying weapons or money. The day 9/11/2001 had a global effect that will exist into the future.
Make this super short
The 9/11 attacks had a global impact, costing an estimated $65 billion in cleanup and job losses. It led to increased security measures, fueled ethnic and religious prejudice, and sparked mistrust between Muslims and non-Muslims. Al-Qaeda used the attacks to rally support and demonstrate their power, leading to ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and heightened tensions worldwide.
The Rwandan genocide in 1994, in which 800,000 people were killed and millions fled to other countries, was underrepresented in the media. In spite of UN declarations obligating member countries to intervene when acts against human rights were being committed, it didn’t. The genocide was shrouded in confusion by the media. By rarely distinguishing the Hutu from the Tutsi and calling all involved Rwandans, the media made the acts committed by the Hutu government appear to be acts of civil war and not an unbalanced attack on one ethnicity. To the Western world, it was nothing more than a war for the Rwandans to navigate. To the surrounding central African nations, though, it amplified their lack of resources, increased the spread of disease, and overburdened their environments. The governments of countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo resented Western lack of action and the new Rwandan Tutsi government because the genocide directly impacted their countries’ stability and well-being. The crisis in Darfur that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the fleeing of millions more did not immediately draw the international attention or intervention it later would receive. While President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir would eventually be charged with genocide in front of the rest of the world by the International Criminal Court, he was never arrested by that group—though he was convicted of some crimes in Sudan. The September 11, 2001, attacks by al-Qaeda received nonstop media coverage. The world knew immediately as it was happening because it occurred in the U.S. New York—headquarters for media companies, multibillion-dollar businesses, and a world financial center—was something Western people felt connected to. People who shared their cultural, economic, and social institutions could identify with the victims. The supporters of al-Qaeda were empowered. The events continue to be in the news. The intent of terrorism is to instill fear and uncertainty, and this is exactly what the attacks on 9/11 did. They drew international attention and recognition, as the terrorists intended. Supporters saw the terrorists as martyrs and the acts as something to stand behind. Events in the world do not exist in isolation. The amount of impact they have and where those effects are felt depend on location and the perspective of those involved. An attack on a wealthy, powerful Western nation resulted in an immediate global response. Airports closed and new security measures were adopted throughout the Western world. The media coverage fueled prejudice and racism while empowering similar terrorist cells. The Rwandan genocide occurred in a place with little media interest. Geographically, it is isolated from the Western world. Media access is limited and mostly controlled by the government, so information is limited. Rwanda is perceived as a poor African country and does not carry the same influence globally as the U.S. Lack of information combined with lack of interest resulted in a delayed and limited reaction by the international community. It was dismissed as a civil war, and the aid Rwanda received was seen as charity versus a humanitarian act in accordance with UN proclamations. Locally, the lack of support created bitterness and perpetuated conflict between Hutu and Tutsi populations. Consumers of media determine what is worthy of being broadcast. The more Western consumers can connect with events, the more likely they are to get involved.
Make this short
The Rwandan genocide in 1994, where 800,000 people were killed, was initially underrepresented in the media and seen as a civil war by the Western world. The lack of intervention highlighted disparities in global attention and response. The 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda received widespread media coverage, sparking fear and prejudice, and leading to global security changes. The events illustrate how media coverage and cultural connections impact international reactions to crises.
After two world wars and the atrocities of the Holocaust, 26 countries came together to create an international governing body dedicated to maintaining peace and security among nations. The United Nations (UN) was the first international organization to develop a general system of order over member countries with the goal of keeping international peace. The UN developed a universal definition of genocide to prevent another Holocaust from happening through a system of member responsibility, awareness, and intervention. Adolf Hitler’s Germany had committed genocide of more than 12 million people. Nazi Germany focused on particular populations based on ethnicity, religion, and sexual identity, with people of Jewish descent as its primary target. Soldiers of the Allied powers who had forced Germany’s surrender uncovered numerous concentration camps throughout German-occupied territory. These camps were used to purge the Jewish population because they were seen as inferior to the Nazi idea of an ideal race. Hitler blamed the social and economic ills Germany faced after World War I on the Jewish people as well as members of other ethnic groups. Propaganda propelled feelings of hate toward ethnic minorities. The devastation of life and abuse ultimately led to the UN’s efforts to prevent this from happening again. This would be achieved by holding countries accountable to one another and mutually agreeing to intervene if genocide was happening elsewhere.
Make this short
In the aftermath of two world wars and the Holocaust, the United Nations (UN) was created to maintain peace and prevent atrocities like genocide. The UN developed a universal definition of genocide to prevent events like the Holocaust from happening again, highlighting the importance of member responsibility, awareness, and intervention to ensure international peace and security.
There is not an internationally agreed upon definition of terrorism. This makes it difficult to determine when intervention is necessary. The saying “one person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter” is the challenge. Terrorism is based on perception and bias of the audience. The UN has tried to define terrorism, stating that it can be considered criminal acts with the intent of causing terror to a targeted population or general population for political, ideological, racial, ethnic, philosophical, religious, or any other reason. This definition is open to interpretation depending on who is involved and their intentions. Terrorism has been commonly defined as a calculated use of violence to instill fear in a population for political influence or government takeover. The use of propaganda and guerrilla warfare are elements typically found in acts of terror. Terrorists manipulate media coverage to advance their agenda. Violent and high-profile attacks such as hijackings, mass shootings, and bombings frequently receive media attention due to their scale and brutality. Terrorists’ main goal is to use fear to implement change. There are different types of terrorism. Revolutionary terrorism occurs when a group’s goal is to abolish a preexisting political system. A prominent example is al-Qaeda. This group is focused on toppling what they believe to be world society based on Western capitalism and creating a global Islamic state. The other type is state-sponsored terrorism, which happens in secrecy. North Korea’s authoritarian government keeps its population isolated from the rest of the world. The media within the country is controlled by the government. As a result the outside world has little to no idea what is actually happening and has difficulty intervening. The government produces propaganda to spread its message on a nationwide scale. Government censorship of the media controls access to information and is another way for the government to control its population. Unlike other forms of terrorism in which publicity is desired, in state-sponsored terrorism governments use violent acts to intimidate their populations. People who oppose the government are killed or imprisoned. Fear of retaliation for speaking out is how military dictatorships retain their power.
Make this shorter