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

<Research Note> 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 &Loy, (2017); Schmalz, Colistra & Evans, (2014) emphasize that social identity links an individual's self-perception to their association with social group members.This perspective also suggests that one of the key motivations for individuals to associate with a social group is to fulfi ll the need for self-confi dence.In addition, identifying with a group can off er several benefi ts, including achieving personal goals, enhancing a sense of belonging, and improving well-being.Being associated with a high-status group can lead to positive outcomes.Conversely, belonging to a low-status or undervalued group may result into negative consequences for its members (Schmalz, Colistra &Evans, 2014).One of the key principles of social identity is social categorization, which contributes to the creation of "us versus them" narratives.People are often defi ned based on the social groups to which they belong, and this categorization frequently becomes the root of social prejudices, biases, stereotypes, and perceptions that are commonly accepted as reality (Scheepers & Ellemers, 2019).Trepete & Loy (2017) further explain that group-versus-group perception fosters what they refer to as in-group favoritism, which infl uences people's behaviors, interactions, and ways of thinking within society.Furthermore, social media has become a powerful tool for producing and reproducing the epistemology of social identity in various contexts.Online interactions increasingly shape how individuals perceive and express their identities.Social media also acts as a platform for comparison between in-groups and out-groups, which can evoke both positive and negative emotions depending on the perceived status of an individual's social group (Schmalz, Colistra & Evans, 2014).Social categorization becomes a tool for constructing diff erent social groups within a country or community, based on the ideology of "us and them".As a result, it creates boundaries between these groups.These divisions can be based on various factors such as nationality, race, profession, gender, or ethnicity, depending on the specifi c context.Still, social categorization signifi cantly infl uences intergroup relations and interactions (Ellemers, 2025;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.