Rwanda Today Social Sciences Essay Research Coursework (Essay Sample)

Rwanda Today
Despite these overall economic improvements and Rwanda’s long-term economic vision, significant political challenges remain. Paul Kagame continues to run the country with a strong authoritative hand, very little political dissidence is allowed, and press freedom is limited. Those within his inner-circle who have spoken out against his policies are now the targets of international political assassinations. While ethnic associations and labels have been banned, Hutu’s see a glass ceiling on their success. For example, Tutsis comprise about 15 percent of the population, but account for the majority of top government posts and business leaders. The country still remains very poor as more than a third of the national budget is supported by foreign aid. Rwanda’s high growth rate (over 8 percent) in the 2000s is now slowing. The country’s constitution was recently amended by the support of the Rwandan people to extend Kagame’s term limits beyond 2017; he can now remain in power, if popularly elected, until 2034.
Paul Kagame will be the first to admit that Rwanda is an experiment and that the end result is still unknown. Given the atrocities and the complex dimensions of reconciliation, the ability for genocide victims and perpetrators to live and work side-by-side is remarkable. However, the collective memory of the genocide is a distinct and defining element of Rwandan society today. Despite the horrific trauma many experienced, post-genocide Rwanda presents opportunities for women leadership in how the country is being reconstructed.