Destabilising identity structures The impacts of domestic and international policy programs in the 1994 Rwanda genocide

Purpose - To analyze the impact of policy on people's identities, and the conflicts which can result from this. Design/methodology/approach - The case of the Rwanda genocide is used to examine identity disturbances related to policies. Findings - Identity adjustments generated by policies can have devastating effects such as genocide. This raises the issue of national decision makers' responsibilities as well as those of the international institutions advocating and enforcing such policies. Research limitations/implications - This study implies that we need to consider the impacts of policies on people's identities and to extend such empirical research. Practical implications - The issue of institutions' responsibilities must be discussed, for both national and international institutions; and a precautionary principle in decision making must be set for expert advisors. Originality/value - The paper addresses the links between economic policies and their effects on individual identity, an area which has not yet been examined in economic studies.